JAN  a  3  ]SH 


/: 


HISTORY 


OF 


ILLINOIS, 


T<J    ACCOMPANY    AN 


HISTORICAL   MAP 


OF  THE  yTATE. 


By   KUFUS   BLANCHAKD. 


CHICAGO  : 

NATIONAL  SCHOOL  FURNISHING  COMPANY, 

Nos.  34  AND  36  Madison  Street. 

1883. 


f  BIBLIOTHECA 


COPYRIGHTED. 

By  RUFUS  BLA.NX1IARD. 

1888. 


r 

zees 


PREFACE.  3 


PREFACE. 


Ill  ]>reseiitiii^r  this  work  to  the  Public,  and  especifdly  to 
the  people  of  Illinois,  we  are  j^romptetl  hy  two  motives,  one 
to  iiid  the  student  of  to-day  in  fixing  the  most  notable  events 
in  the  history  and  development  of  the  State  clearly  in  the 
mind,  and  tlu-  other,  still  more  important,  to  preserve  in  con- 
densed form  fov  the  future  what  is  known  to-day  of  its  his- 
tory. The  researches  of  Mr.  Blanchard,  partly  given  in  his 
"History  of  the  Northwest,"  and  his  "Historical  Map  of  the 
United  States,"  led  to  this  more  detailed  work  on  the  State  of 
Illinois,  as  tlie  most  permanent  and  desirable  torm  of  present- 
ing the  valuable  data  on  the  history  of  tlie  State  which  has 
been  gathered  by  him  through  years  of  labor. 

A  trite  saying,  -  stick  a  pin  there,"  as  alluding  to  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  fact  and  its  pro])er  location,  has  been  kept  in 
mind  in  this  work,  and  Mr.  Bla;ichard  has  stuck  pins  and 
labeled  them  all  over  the  State,  simplitying  and  localizing  its 
history,  so  plainly  that  "he  who  runs  may  read." 

THE  PUBLISHERS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


INTKODUCTTON. 


Two  large  vallev>  extend  into  tin-  iTinermoHt  centre  of  a 
continent,  and  a  hroad  plateau  oi'  fertile  soil  intervenes  between 
them.  Tliis  is  Illinois — a  connecting  link  and  portage  ground 
from  one  of  them  to  the  other.  Had  it  been  an  arid  waste  or 
an  impregnate  mountain  uplift,  it  would  have  been  a  barrier 
— a  separatrix  between  them  ;  Init.  in  the  economy  of  Nature, 
the  national  interests  of  Illinois  are  inseparably  connec::ed  with 
those  of  Itoth. 

From  its  first  discovery,  the  physical  geography  of  this 
country  attracted  the  attention  <>f  the  French,  and  their  early 
occupation  of  it  sliows  the  importance  they  attached  to  it. 
Three  nations  have  contended  for  possession  of  it — Spain. 
France  and  England,  but  a  new  nation  possesses  it  by  right  of 
"  manifest  destiny." 

To  leave  her  history  out  of  American  records  would  leave  an 
unbridged  chasm— it  would  be  like  cutting  off  the  tap  root  of 
a  tree  and  leaving  its  trunk  without  support. 

When  the  Jamesto\\m  and  Plymouth  colonies  were  contend- 
ing witli  a  stubborn  soil,  their  ambitions  limited  to  their  daily 
wants,  France  was  laying  the  dimension  stone  in  the  Illinois 
country  for  the  central  base  of  her  American  empire,  and  to 
this  end  she  built  Ft.  Chartres  here,  the  most  impregnable 
fortress  then  known  in  the  Western  World.     These  high  hopes 


6 


INTKODUCTION. 


tliat  .slie  then  cherished  have  been  realized — not  hy  her,  hut  hy 
a  new  nation,  and  it  is  not  too  mueli  to  say  that  the  history  of 
Illinois  records  a  past  and  j)resages  a  future  that  tinds  a  par- 
allel oidy  in  tlie  history  of  the  United  States,  of  which  it  forms 
80  important  a  part,  and  anything  that  aft'ects  her  affects  the 
whole.      If  the  centre  is  jarred,  the  <  ircumference  is  shaken. 

Youth  of  Illinois  :  You  who  are  to  inherit  such  responsi- 
bilities may  laudably  feel  a  State  pride  which  will  lieighten 
your  ambition  to  do  honor  to  her  name. 

THE  AUTHOR. 
Wheaton,  June,  1883. 


Al  THOUITIKS    ('()XSlI/li:i». 


AUTHORITIES   (  ONSITLTEI). 


State  ])iiper;^  niul  puhlir  <l(»cuin('iit>,  the  ciirretit  historic  iit- 
♦■ratuiT  <.f  the  Xorthwe.-t.  aiid  luaiiv  raiv  wcirks  now  out  ut'  print 
have  been  at  inv  coininaiKl  in  the  preparation  of  tliis  Avork. 

But  besides  all  these.  I  owe  lastino-  oi>li^^ati<jns  to  ^Mr.  J.  G. 
Shea,  of  New  York,  whose  contribution  cites  authorities  not 
to  be  .piestioned  regarding,'  tlie  settlement  of  Kaskaskia.     Tills 
will  confer  a  favor  on  many  writers  who  liave  lieretofore  I)een 
in  doubt,  l)oth  as  to  tlie  date  and  circumstances  attendincr  this 
early  settlement  and   mission  ;    to   Mr.   11.  ^V.    P.eckwith.  of 
Danville.  III..  Mhose  chapter  on  the  Indian  tribes  <»f  Illinois, 
with  maps  accompanying,  is  compiled  from  researches  of  many 
yeai's   in   tliis  department  of  the  history  of  our  State  ;  to  Mr. 
E.  ]\I.  Haines,  of  Waukegan,  III.,  whose  chapter  on  the  Indian 
names  of  Illinois  will  be  gratefully  received  by  all  wlio  wish  to 
retain  these  examples  of  tlie  beauty  and  euphony  of  the  Al- 
gonquin language  ;  to  Mr.  Josej^h  Gillespie,  of  Edwardsvilie, 
III.,  whose  contribution  on  early  settlements  is  made  largely 
from  his  personal  knowledge,  he  having  come  to  the  State  in 
1819  ;  to  Mr.  Aaron  AV.  Kellogg,  of  Springfield,  for  his  article 
on  the  powers  and  responsibilities  of  the  State  offices,  and  the 
duties  of  each  department  mi  the  present  government  of  the 
State  ;  to  Mr.  Milo  Erwin.  of  Marion,  for  information  regard- 
ing the  route  of  General  George  Rogers  Clarke  to  Kaskaskia 


**  ALTUOltlTIKS    CONSULTED. 

.•UMl  ^'iiicennes  ;  and.  finally,  t<.  tlie  manv  .-.ivly  settlers  tjin.u-h- 
'•«it  flu"  Stat<;  Nvlu.Mi  I  have  l.a.l  tlio  pleasure  to  nieet  an.l  Zu- 
suit,  and  whose  valued  ai<I  has  enabled  me  t..  date  and  l„eate 
...any  events  that  enhan.v  th..  vaiur  of  the  unrk,  an.l  in  some 
cases  establish  liistorical  data  that  n.i^^d.t  utlnM-uiM.  hav,.  I„vn 
lost. 


JAMKHToWN-HL.YMt)U'rH. 


CHAPTEll   I. 


DISCOVERY. 

Tlie  student  of  history  (U'lij^hts  in  ;i  gooii  fouiKliitioii  on 
which  to  start  to  write  history,  without  which,  it  is  like  hegin- 
ninir  in  the  middle  of  u  storv. 

Jauiestowu  was  the  startiuij  place  tor  American  National 
History.  The  men  wlio  in  KIOT  settled  there  were  loyal  to 
Englisii  institutions  and  to  cvervthini^  that  was  Kii<,dish 
whether  it  was  law,  reliij^ion  <»r  ])olitics.  Somt-  of  them  were 
too  lazy  to  work  hut  not  too  lazy  to  iij^ht,  some  <>f  them  could 
do  hotli.  all  of  them  were  pets  of  the  English  Government,  and 
subsequently  this  colony  was  theHrst  to  re])el  French  aggres- 
sion when  tlie  territorial  issue  between  France  and  England 
came  up  in  1753. 

The  settlemetit  of  W20  at  Plymouth  was  the  next.  The 
men  who  comj)ose<l  this  were  essentially  diU'erent  froTU  the 
Jamestown  colonists.  The  sublime  princij)les  of  English 
liberty  to  them  were  no  empty  name.  They  meant  every  thing 
they  said,  and  to  them  they  meant  religious  as  well  as  civil 
liberty.  That  they  were  ]iioneers  in  both,  the  sequel  proved, 
for  thouffh  thev  were  at  first  a  sort  of  elephant  on  the  hands  of 
the  crown  that  it  was  glad  to  get  rid  of,  they  subsequently  led 
the  way  to  reforms  and  improvements  in  State  affairs  that  the 
parent  government  was  forced  by  the  progress  of  civilization 
to  adopt.  They  also  laid  the  foundation  of  our  American  in- 
stitutions as  they  are  to  day,  and  the  laws  of  Illinois  as  well 
as  those  of  all  other  States  of  the  Union  are  the  fruitage  of  the 
eecd  they  planted  on  the  coast  of  Massachusetts,  but  moditied 


10  GULF  OK  .ST.  l.AWUKNCK  DISCOVKKKl). 

to  suit  the  demands  nt'a  more  practical  ngi',  and  an  age  of  still 
liroadcr  eliirious  freedom  tiian  they  ever  tliought  of  or  would 
have  ad  ocated.  The  seed  they  planted  grew  into  a  larger  tree 
than  the  parent  plant,  and  all  because  the  soil  of  tlie  west  was 
richi'r  and  its  fields  larger.  Hence  the  source  of  the  political, 
social,  religious  and  educational  laws  and  customs  of  Illinois, 
tor  these  ixrcw  from  the  church,  the  scluxd-house  and  from 
iireside  attractions  that  make  the  young  and  the  old  love  their 
homes.  The  history  of  all  this  is  made  interesting  by  even  the 
pictures  on  the  walls  of  these  homes.  Our  poetry,  our  romance 
and  our  drama  are  based  on  this  histoiw,  and  even  our  fimily 
]>ride  would  lose  its  point  if  not  associated  with    its  grandeur. 

The  discovery  and  exploration  of  the  Illinois  Country,  as  it 
■was  called  at  first,  forms  a  chapter  in  history  full  of  varied 
material  for  the  historic  pen.  Spain  took  the  lead  in  American 
discoveries  <luring  the  reign  of  Charles  V.,  who  was  then  the 
most  ])owei-ful  monarch  of  Europe.  The  large  amounts  of  gold 
brought  l)v  his  fleets  from  the  new  world,  stimulated  the  ambi- 
tion of  the  French  king  to  participate  in  western  adventures,  and 
to  this  end  an  expedition  was  planned  to  ex[>lore  its  northern 
coast  sufficiently  remote  from  the  S})anish  claims  of  Florida  not 
to  coTue  in  competition  with  with  them.  The  command  of  thu 
expedition  was  given  to  Jacques  Cartier.  it  sailed  from  St.  Malo 
in  the  spring  of  1534,  Charles  Y.  protested  against  its  sailing 
to  make  discoveries  in  the  new  world  which  he  claimed  as  the 
heritage  of  Spain  alone,  to  which  Francis  the  French  king  re- 
plied "I  should  like  to  see  the  clause  in  Father  AdjimV  will  and 
testament  which  becpieaths  to  S])ain  alone  so  vast  •«:.  lieritage."* 

The  (xiilf  of  St.  Lawrence  was  entered  directly  after  the  ar- 
rival of  ('artier's  fleet  and  lu'  named  it  after  the  Saint  whose 
name  i I  bears.  The  following  spring  he  returned,  ])ushed  his 
way  tip  the  St.  Lawrence  rivei-  and  wintered  in  the  vicinity 
of  Quebec  among  the  Indians  who  entertained  their  new  guests 
with  the  best  they  had.     As  soon  as  navigation  opened    the 

♦Graham's  Colonial  History. 


QUEBEC    SETfLED.  11 

next  spring  Cartier  returned  to  France  and  reported  wliat  he 
had  seen. 

Tlie  great  hi<j^hway  to  tlie  interior  had  been  opened  to  view, 
but  it  a[)j»eared  like  a  barren  discovery  fur  it  was  not  then 
known  what  hiid  beyond  the  rock-clad  headlands  of  the  St. 
Lav/rence,  and  it  was  not  till  1608  that  the  French  colonized 
their  possessions  on  its  banks.  This  was  done  under  King 
Henry  IV.  by  Samuel  de  Chaniplain  at  Quebec.  Here  began 
on  the  waters  of  the  St.  Lawrence  the  work  of  exploration 
destined  ^  .I'ing  to  light  tlie  entire  Valley  of  the  Mississippi 
to  which  it  was  at  that  time  tlie  only  avenue,  for  the  Spanish 
guarded  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  with  a  jealous  eye.  and  to  have  ap- 
proached the  interior  across  the  country  would  not  have  been 
allowed  by  the  Five  Nations  or  Iroquois,  who  then  held  the 
intervening  country  between  it  and  the  Hudson  river  as  far 
south  as  tlie  Allei;lienv  mountains. 

Chaniplain  established  French  authority  at  Quebec  and  as  soon 
as  the  natural  obstacles  to  further  explorations  would  admit  of  it 
French  missionaries  and  French  fur  traders  pushed  forward 
into  the  interior  and  established  forts  and  mission  houses. 
In  1615  Chani[)lain  himself  on  a  tour  of  exploration  discovered 
Lake  Huron  and  named  it  after  a  tribe  of  Indians  on  its  sliores. 

In  164-1  French- missionaries  h'ad  reached  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Superior,  and  in  165S  traders  had  reached  its  western  extrem- 
ity and  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  Sioux  —  the  same  war- 
like nation  whose  descendants,  under  their  chief  Sitting  Bull, 
overwhelnied  the  army  of  General  Custer  among  the  Black 
Hills  in  1877.  killin-ir  all  Imt  one  of  them.  From  them  the 
first  tidiuirs  of  "•  the  areat  river  that  flowed  southward  to  the 


» 


^'g 


sea,"  came  to  the  French.  This  intbrmation  stimulated  their 
zeal  to  ex])lore  it.  and  to  this  end  Father  Manjuette,  a  priest, 
and  Joliet.  a  trader,  under  patronage  of  Talon.  Intendent 
of  Canada  while  Frontenac  was  Governor,  started  witli  two 
canoes  and  five  service  men  from  the  mission  of  St.  Ignace, 
opposite  the  island  of  Maeiuac.     Holding  their  course  along  the 


12  niSCOVERY  OF  THK  MISSISSII'I'I. 

northern  shore  of  Lake  Michip^an,  they  soon  entered  the  waters 
of  Green  Bay,  and  arrivinii^  at  its  liead  they  rested  a  short  time 
at  the  mission  of  St.  Francis  Xavier.  whicli  liad  been  estab- 
lished fonr  years  provionsly.  From  this  outermost  limit  of 
French  occupation  they  took  tlieir  final  departure  from  the 
abodes  of  civilization  into  tlie  great  unknown  wilderness  before 
them.  By  the  advice  of  the  Indians  they  were  directed  into 
the  path  which  led  to  the  elbow  in  tlie  Wisconsin  river  at  the 
present  site  of  T*ortage.  Here  tliey  launched  their  two  bark 
canoes  into  the  riv^er  and  continued  oti  their  way  till  its  mouth 
was  reached  in  the  rolling  surges  of  the  Mississippi,  whose 
turbulent  waters  contrasted  strangely  with  the  AViscoiisin, 
wliich  held  its  quiet  course  sometimes  under  the  brow  of  a 
precipice  and  sometimes  in  a  deep  channel  througli  prairie 
sand-bars.  Marquette  was  delighted  with  the  discovery  of 
"tlie  great  river."  then  without  a  name,  and  he  christened  it 
the  Conception  River  in  honor  of  his  patron  saint,  "  the 
Blessed  Yirsin."  The  discoverv  was  made  on  the  iTtli  of 
Jui>e.  1<)T:').  Down  its  current  the  travelers  passed  through 
the  great  am])litude  of  wild  nature  that  spread  out  in  limitless 
prairies  on  either  side,  and  on  which  countless  herds  of  buffiilo 
found  pasturage.  No  signs  of  human  life  had  yet  been  seen 
in  the  immense  country  through  which  they  had  passed  since 
they  l<'ft  the  mission  house  at  Green  Bay,  but  on  their  arrival 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines  river  human  foot-prints  were 
discovered  on  its  banks. 

This  excited  the  explorers,  especially  Marquette,  whose  chief 
object  was  to  bring  the  light  of  the  gospel  to  new  naticms, 
while  that  of  Joliet  was  to  open  a  way  for  French  alliances 
with  the  inhabitants  of  the  country,  with  an  ultimate  view  of 
occupying  it  jointly  with  the  natives  after  they  had  been  con- 
verted to  Christianity  under  the  teaching  of  the  Tuissionaries. 
The  loving  relations  between  the  French  and  the  Indians  were 
always  consistent  with  this  theory,  but  fortune  in  the  future 
had  a  different  fate  in  store  for  both.     The  footprints  seen  by 


DISCX)VKKY  UK  THE  MISSISSiri'l.  1  ^^ 

the  ex])lorers  were  followed,  and  after  two  leagues  tlnve  liidi!ii. 
villages  were  seen  on  the  bunks  of  the  Des  Moines.  They 
were  ol  the  Peoria  trihe  of  the  Illinois  Indians,  and  now  an 
i»!t»M'view  between  the  Frencli  and  these  tribes  is  about  to 
take  ]>lace.  Soon  as  the  iip})r'>!i(di  of  the  strangers  had  at- 
tracted tlie  attention  of  the  villagers,  lour  chiefs  advanced  to 
meet  them.  "AN  lio  are  you'f"  called  out  Marquette  in  Algon- 
quin dialect.  '■  AVe  are  Illini,"'  replied  one  ot  their  chiefs. 
This  Wiird  in  their  language  meant  men,  and  therefore  the 
word  Illini  was  not  intended  to  be  understood  in  a  generic 
sense  by  tliem,  b\it  ?s  signilicant  of  the  liumane  intentions 
which  they  vouchsjifed  towards  their  distinguislicd  guests,  and 
which  j)rofession  they  never  dishonored  in  their  future  inter- 
course with  them  They  also  intended  by  this  reply  to  dis- 
tinguish themselves  from  the  Iroquois,  whom  they  stignuitized 
as  beasts  on  account  of  their  cruel  modes  of  warfare,  the  force  of 
which  they  had  felt.  A  pleasant  interview  followed,  in  which 
the  Indians  entertained  their  visitors  with  the  best  varieties  of 
food  their  hands  could  prepare,  among  which  the  "delicious" 
dog  meat  was  not  forgotten.  The  rest  was  made  U])  of  bufhilo 
meat,  iish  and  hominy. 

Marquette  never  lost  an  opportunity  to  advocate  Christianity 
to  his  savage  hearers,  and  on  this  occasion  told  then)  of  the 
crucifixion  of  Christ  and  the  })lan  of  salvation,  all  of  which 
was  politely  received  by  his  untutored  audience,  whose  desire 
to  cultivate  the  good  will  of  the  French  was  stimulated  by  fear 
of  the  Iroquois,  from  whose  invasions  they  looked  to  thtm  tor 
protection. 

AVith  friendship  on  both  sides  the  explorers  took  their  leave 
the  next  morning,  which  was  the  25th  of  June,  and  continued 
their  course  down  the  river. 

On  arriving  at  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  a  roving  band  of 
Indians  were  met.  They  were  armed  with  guns,  ])robably 
i.'btained  from  the  English  colonists.  A  few  pleasant  courte- 
sies were   exchanged  with  them,  and  the  travelers  passed  on 


14  DISCOVERY  OF   TIIK  MISSISSIPPI. 

and  were  soon  buried  in  the  irlooniv  forests  ot  cotton  wood 
that  shadow  tlie  hanks  of  this  river  in  its  innnensity  helow  tlie 
mouth  of  the  Ohio — majestic  in  its  monotony  and  grand  in 
its  solitude. 

Through  these  silent  reahns  they  made  their  way  along  with 
the  current  to  the  vicinity  of  the  Arkansas  i-iver,  where  the 
scene  changed.  Here  was  life  again,  .uid  a  ditlerent  ])eople. 
The  young  men  assailed  them  with  their  war  cluhs,  hut  hap- 
pily the  old  men  came  to  the  rescue  in  time  to  ])revent  any 
damage  by  ordering  a  suspension  of  hostilities.  Pendinij  this 
new  danger,  Mar(|uette  presented  the  calumet  and  called  upon 
tlie  Holy  Virgin  to  protect  them,  and  in  his  devotion  gave  to 
her  all  the  ijclorv  for  their  deliverance. 

A  friendly  interview  followed,  and  the  ex])lorers  were  con- 
ducted with  much  ceremony  to  the  houses  of  the  natives  and 
feasted  with  tish  and  hominy,  the  dishes  from  which  they  ate 
being  earthenware  of  native  manufacture.  The  night  was 
spent  among  them,  thougli  not  without  misgivings  as  to  the 
abiding  character  of  the  hastily  improvised  friendship  which 
these  southern  tribes  had  made  up. 

The  ever-ready  gospel  was  dispensed  tu  them  through  an  in- 
terpreter who  understood  the  Hlinois  tongue  in  whicli  ]\Iar- 
quette  addressed  his  passionless  audience,  and  the  next  day, 
which  was  the  10th  of  July,  the  explorers  started  on  their 
return. 

From  what  they  had  already  seen,  tliey  were  convinced  that 
the  '•  great  river  "  emptied  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  to  go 
farther  would  be  exceedingly  dangerous,  not  only  from  the  In- 
dians, but  from  Spanish  exj)lorers  who  might  be  encountered 
oil  the  lower  waters  of  the  river. 

Constant  toiling  at  the  oar  in  a  frw  weeks  brought  them  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river,  into  which  they  entered  and 
kept  up  the  stream  till  tiie  village  of  the  Kaskaskias,  near  the 
present  site  of  Utica,  was  reached.  Here  they  Avere  again  re- 
ceive<l  with  true  Illinois  friendship  of  no  doubtful  character. 


i)iscovp:kv  ok  tiik  ciiicAGor  pokta(;k.  16 

After  the  iTievitiible  feast  of  sapamite  (hominy),  added  to  which 
was  tin;  equally  inevitable  l)lessiii<r  of  the  pious  missionary,  the 
iourne\  was  a<;ai;i  re^^umcul  under  an  escort  of  Indian  ijfuides 
wlio  dunteered  to  accompany  tlie  Frenchmen  to  the  C'hieai^ou 
portaii'i'.  'Twas  in  the  month  of  Se])temherM'hen  they  arrived 
at  the  ])!ace,  then  a  l)road  waste  of  trrass  and  prairie  liowers, 
channeled  l>y  two  lazy  ^treams  that  met  from  ojtjiositc  direc- 
tions and.  united,  flowed,  or  ratlK-r  formed  :i  connection,  witli 
the  lake.  Thi>  was  Chicago  as  nature  made  it  and  as  these 
men.  wlio  were  unquestionably  its  tirst  discoverers,  saw  it.  The 
Indians  ;ind  tlie  Frenchmen  here  parted  company,  the  former 
starting  back  to  tlieir  home,  and  the  hitter  coasting  along  the 
west  bank  of  Lake  ^lichigau  toward  Canada.  On  arriving  at 
a  point  <tpposite  the  mission  of  St.  Francis  Xavier.  Marquette, 
being  sadly  in  need  of  rest,  in  consequence  of  sickness,  took 
refuge  at  the  mission-house,  while  Joliet  continued  on  his  I'oute 
to  Ciinada  to  report  what  the  two  had  discovered  to  Frontenac, 
the  governor.  On  the  25th  of  the  following  October.  Father 
Marquette  was  ))artiallv  recovered  from  his  maladv.  and  set  out 
on  a  return  tri])  to  visit  the  Kaskaskia  village  on  the  Illinois 
river.  Two  vountj  Frenchmen,  Pierre  and  Jactiues.  and  a  del- 
egation  of  Indians  sufficiently  numerous  to  Ull  ten  canoes,  ac- 
com}»anied  him.  Their  route  was  across  a  narrow  neck  of  land 
intervening  bt'tween  the  liead  of  Green  Bay  and  Lake  Mic.ii- 
gan  by  a  jyortage.  tin  ..ce  along  tlie  shore  of  tlie  lake  to  the 
Chicago  rivor. 

'Twas  the  -ith  of  December  when  he  arrived  at  this  then 
desolate  ])ortage.  The  river  was  sheeted  over  with  ice,  which 
sus])ended  canoe  navigation,  but  what  was  far  more  unfortun- 
ate, the  Father  was  again  prostrated  by  a  return  of  his  malady. 
To  proceed  Avas  im]M)ssible,  and  to  remain  at  the  comfortless 
place  was  a  grievous,  but  tlie  only  alternative. 

.V  cabin  was  built,  probably  on  the  south  ranch  of  the 
Chicago  river  towards  its  source,  which  at  that  time  was  what 
has  since  been  called  Mud  Lake.     This  lake  was  a  succession 


16  DKATII    OK    MAKyUE'lTE. 

ofsldughrt  coniiectiiiijf  with  the  Desphiines  river,  and  tormmg 
«;uod  canoe  naviijati  n  all  tlie  way  in  lii<;h  water,  but  <luring 
till'  summer  months  was  drained  of  its  surplus  waters  and  left 
a  sta<;Tiant  })ool.  'J'he  two  faithful  companions  of  the  invalid 
did  their  best  to  keep  him  eomfortahle  as  far  as  the  hasty  cabin 
which  they  nnide  lor  him  could  do  it.  The  Father  kept  a 
journal,  and  from  it  we  learn  that  roving  bahds  of  Indians 
sometimes  visited  him  and  brought  game,  and  that  nijt  far 
distant  a  trader  had  recently  established  a  j)ost,  and  he  some- 
times brought  such  succor  to  the  missionary  as  tlie  wilderness 
afforded. 

AVinter  did  not  break  till  late  in  March,  on  the  30th  of 
which  month,  says  the  jouriial,  tlie  ground  on  which  the  cabin 
stood  Avas  ovei'tlowed  by  an  excessive  I'ain,  and  they  were  forced 
to  leave  the  spot  for  a  more  elevated  one.  The  last  item  on 
his  journal  bears  date  of  April  Oth,  and  two  days  later  he  was 
at  the  Kaskaskia  village,  near  where  Utica  now  stands,  from 
which  it  woidd  appear  that  the  freshet  had  carried  the  canoe 
in   which  they  traveled  rapidly  to  the  ])lace. 

Here  the  devout  missionary  exerted  himself  tt)  his  utmost 
limit  to  establish  a  mission  among  the  Illinois  tribes,  who  ap- 
pear to  have  won  his  solicitude  from  the  Urst.  He  named  the 
mission  The  Immaculate  Conception,  and  spent  his  last  vital 
enei'gies  in  it  to  bring  to  the  understanding  of  his  willing  but 
unteachable  hearers  the  Christian  plan  of  salvation. 

Alter  remaining  a  few  days  with  his  savage  tiock,  he  felt 
that  he  could  barely  survive  long  enough  to  reach  Canada,  and 
he  with  his  companions  started  on  their  return.  They  chose 
iheir  route  along  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  On 
arriving  at  the  place  now  known  as  Sleeping  Bear  Point,  he 
died  at  their  ])laceof  eneam])ment  on  the  shore,  and  was  buried 
by  his  attendants.  The  next  year  his  remains  were  disinterred 
ItA'  a  band  of  Indians,  carried  to  the  Mission  of  Saint  Ignace, 
just  o))j)osite  Mackinaw,  and  buried  beneath  the  chapel  with 
impressive  ceremony.     In  1877  an  attempt  was  made  to  dis- 


mak(^ukttk's  remains.  17 

cover  his  bones,  which  resulted  in  finding  two  <»f'  tlu-ni  only.* 
The  record  of  liis  discovery  of  the  Mississij)])!  will  he  as  en- 
dnring  as  onr  literature.  It  forms  tlie  ojtening  cha])ter  of  our 
f^tate  history,  and  canni>t  fade  into  oblivion  as  long  as  onr  na- 
tion lasts. 

* BlHnt^burd's  Northwest.  Chap.  I. 
> 


18  l.A  SAM.K. 


CHAPTER  II. 


THE  FUEN(  H  T\  ILLINOIS. 

Wlieii  Joliet  p;ii't('(l  I'lom  Marqiuitte  ;it  (rreen  Bay,  as  tolcf 
ill  tlif  torcj^oiiig  cliiipter.  lie  kt'ptoii  his  route  towards  Canada, 
st(.iij»iiii:-  i»n  till'  w;iy  at  Fort  Fronttjiiiic,  at  the  outlet  of  Lake 
Outan'o.  Here  he  met  Robert  de  La  Salle,  who  held  eom- 
luaud  of  the  place.  Already  he  had  distinguished  himself  by 
his  discovery  of  the  Ohio  river  five  years  previously,  and  it  is 
hardly  to  be  doubted  that  the  two  explorers  conferred  together 
as  to  the  geography  of  the  country,  and  especially  as  to  tlu 
new  discovery  of  the  Mississippi,  of  M'hich  Joliet  had  ample 
notes  and  maps,  just  made  by  himself,  while  treading  the  iirst 
])athway  made  by  white  men  throrgli   the  interior. 

After  leaving  Fort  Frontenac.  Joliet  had  the  misfortune  to 
lose  all  the  records  of  his  discovery  by  t)ie  upsetting  of  liis 
canoe  in  the  St.  Lawrence  river,  just  above  Montreal,  and 
throtigh  the  delay  occasioned  b}--  this  accident,  or  soine  other 
cause  not  now  known,  no  otticial  account  of  his  discovery  was 
published  till  1681,  at  which  date  it  appeared  on  Thevenot's 
map,  issued  at  Paris,  and  reproduced  by  various  others  since. 
Marquette  drew  a  map  of  the  •'  Conception  river,"'  together 
with  the  outlines  of  the  lakes,  which  was  a  marvel  of  accuracy 
considering  the  material  lie  had  to  work  with.  It  has  lieen 
republished  by  Shea,  and  copied  from  his  reprint  by  many 
others.     The  original  is  now  in  St.  Mary's  College,  Montreal. 

After  the  interview  between  Joliet  and  La  Salle,  the  latter 
at  once  determined  to  utilize  the  work  so  auspiciously  begun 
by  extending  the  exploration  of  the  Mississippi  to  its  mouth, 


THE    GBIKFIN.  19 

and  ultimately  establishing  acolony  there.  The  St.  Lawrence 
valley,  the  lake  country,  and  the  entire  valley  <»f  the  Missis- 
slp])i  were  Imt  the  limits  of  his  ambition.  On  these  France 
was  to  be  reprtxliH'cd  in  the  New  World,  and  the  Illinois 
conntry  was  to  be  the  central  Ik^sc  of  operations  wherewith  to 
accomplish  these  designs.  The  lirst  step  to  be  taken  in  this 
direction  was  to  secure  a  foothold  at  the  eastern  extremity  of 
Lake  Erie  by  building  a  fort  at  the  place. 

The  Senecas,  an  Iroquois  tribe,  held  this  country  at  the 
time,  and  it  required  no  small  amount  of  persuasion,  accom- 
])anied  with  several  '•  fathoms  of  tobacct>  "  and  other  presents, 
to  overcome  the  misgivings  of  these  Indiims  as  to  the  policy 
of  allowing  the  fort  to  be  built,  but  La  Salle  was  equal  to  the 
emf^rgency,  obtained  their  consent,  and  built  the  fort  in  1678, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Niagara  river. 

The  next  year  he  built  a  vessel  above  the  falls  and  named  it 
The  Uriffin.  She  was  launched  early  in  the  spring,  and  in 
the  following  summer  was  loaded  with  her  cargo,  which  con- 
sisted of  a  forge,  ship  carpenter's  tools,  and  the  iron  work  for 
a  vessel  to  be  built  on  the  banks  of  the  Illinois  river.  With 
this  vessel  La  Salle  intended  to  go  down  the  Mississip])i  river 
to  its  inouth,  and  there  estal)lish  a  colony  with  which  to  hold 
the  whole  country  drained  by  its  waters. 

Witli  this  design  he  set  sail  in  the  Grifiin  on  the  7th  of 
August,  1679.  Thirty-four  men  joined  him,  most  of  whom 
were  those  enlisted  in  his  service.  Tonty,  his  faithful  lieu- 
tenant, and  four  priests,  prominent  among  whom  was  Henne- 
pin, were  included  in  the  number.  The  vessel  safely  arrived 
at  Green  Bay,  wliere  her  cargo  was  unloaded  and  transferred 
to  small  boats,  thence  to  be  transported  to  the  Illinois  river 
with  the  men,  while  the  Griffin  was  loaded  with  a  cargo  of 
furs  and  sent  back  to  the  place  from  whence  she  came. 

At  thai;  time  there  were  two  traveled  routes  from  the  Illi- 
nois river  country  to  Lake  Michigan,  both  of  which  were  older 
than  history.     One  was  by   the  way  of  the   Desplaines  and 


20  KoKT    (KKVK    »<KIB. 

("hicii<;o  rivern.  between  which  was  a  portage  of  about  nine 
miles,  except  in  verv  liigh  water,  at  wliich  time  Mud  Lake 
e«»miecte(i  the  two.  The  otlier  was  by  the  way  of  the  St. 
.losepli  river  to  the  ell)ow  wliere  South  Bend,  Indiana,  now  is, 
thence  by  a  portage  to  the  source  of  the  Kankakee  river,  and 
<h)wn  it  to  the  Illinois.  La  Salle  chose  the  latter,  and,  after 
much  detention  bv  storm,  he  with  his  whole  i'on:e  arrived  at 
tlie  broadening  ot  the  Illinois  river,  where  Peoria  now  is, 
about  tlie  first  of  January,  1«»80.  Time  was  precious  with 
him,  and  it  was  important  that  he  should  set  about  his  work 
immediately.  IJut  before  it  could  be  begun,  consent  from  the 
Indians  to  build  a  tort  must  be  obtained,  and  consent  to  build 
a  vessel  was  equally  necessary  before  the  work  could  safely  be 
attempted.  This  was  readily  obtained  from  the  pliant  Illi- 
nois, and  the  work  was  begun.  The  fort,  wliich  was  only  a 
stockade  of  logs,  was  soon  finished,  and  this  was  the  first  thing 
done  on  the  soil  of  Illinois  witli  a  view  to  permanent  occu{)a- 
tion.  It  was  situated  on  the  eastern  bank  of  the  river,  at  the 
southern  extremity  of  Peoria  Lake,  and  named  Fort  Creve 
Coeur — Broken  Heart.  It  was  probably  so  named  to  memorize 
the  hardships  that  had  crossed  the  path  of  La  Salle  while  con- 
centrating his  force  and  materials  at  this  spot  in  the  dej)ths  of 
a  continent. 

The  keel  was  laid  for  the  intended  vessel  near  by  the  fort, 
but  be  "ore  work  on  it  ha(i  advanced  far,  some  of  his  men  de- 
serted, partly  for  want  of  pay,  and,  perhaps.  ])artly  thi-ough  a 
disjiosition  to  cut  loose  from  restraint  in  the  broad  creation  of 
savage  freedom  then  omnipresent  in  the  Illinois  country. 
This  unlooked  for  hindrance  made  it  necessary  to  suspend 
work  on  the  vessel,  but  the  end  in  view  was  not  lost  sight  of, 
and  La  Salle  determined  to  return  to  Canada  to  enlist  a  fresh 
force  of  men. 

On  the  first  of  March  he  started  with  five  companions,  one 
of  whom  was  an  Indian.  Winter  still  hung  over  the  country, 
and  the  small  streams  were  not  yet  released  from  its  icy  grasp, 


UKKOISM    UV   TONTY.  31 

and  wlu-n  the  travelers  had  reached  tlie  upper  tributaries  tit' 
thr  Illiii(»is  river  tlie  canoes  by  wliicli  they  came  had  to  he 
abandoned,  and  all  tlieir  supplies,  including  camp  outlits, 
packed  on  their  shoulders.  When  the  western  extremity  ot' 
Lake  pj'ie  was  reached,  a  can«)e  \v\.,  made  witli  which  to  per- 
form the  rest  ot"  their  journey  by  water,  and  in  it  La  Salle  and 
one  ot'  the  men  embarked,  atter  sending  the  other  four  up  the 
Detroit  to  Michilimacinac  to  rest,  for  they  were  spent  with 
fatigue  and  sickness.  La  Salle  arri%'ed  at  Fort  Krontenac  on 
the  0th  of  May.  While  he  had  been  painfully  toiling  on  foot 
through  tlie  oozy  savannas  of  the  forest  to  reach  C.anada  for 
new  recruits  of  men,  disasters  had  been  accumulating  at  the 
base  of  his  operations  in  the  front.  Soon  after  his  dei)arturu 
nearly  the  whole  remaining  force  not  only  deserted  but  dis- 
mantled the  fort  and  threw  its  contents  into  the  river.  This 
was  done  during  the  temporary  absence  of  Tonty,  whom  he 
had  left  in  command.  Only  six  of  the  entire  force  had  re- 
mained faithful,  two  of  whom  were  priests.  With  these  the 
heroic  Tonty  put  forth  his  best  efforts  to  inspire  the  respect  of 
his  savage  companions  till  the  return  of  La  Salle  to  carry  out 
his  projects,  for  it  was  essential  to  his  success  to  retain  a  foot- 
hold here.  The  deserters  had  done  their  worst,  and  the  sum- 
mer passed  in  the  listless  inaction  of  Indian  communities 
when  there  is  nothing  to  do  but  to  cultivate  a  patch  of  corn, 
but  on  the  10th  of  Septeral)er,  sudden  as  a  clap  of  thunder  in 
a  clear  sky,  came  an  Iroquois  invasion.  By  a  liappy  chance 
this  advancing  army  had  been  espied  in  the  distance  at  least  a 
day's  march  away,  and  the  news  was  carried  in  hot  haste  by 
fleet-footed  runners  to  the  Illinois  village. 

They  were  in  no  condition  to  defend  themselves,  but  Tonty, 
who  was  their  friend,  just  before  the  battle  took  it  upon  him- 
self to  act  the  part  of  a  mediator,  and  even  after  the  skirmish- 
ing had  begun,  interposed  between  the  two  armies  and  ad- 
vanced into  the  Iroquois  camp. 


22  IR<>VroI8  INVASION. 

The  buttle  was  siispeiidLMl  \>y  tliis  (hiriii^^act,  and  the  furious 
warriors  gathered  around  him,  soiiu-  Iteiitou  killing  him,  while 
others,  more  considerate,  lent  an  ear  to  his  projiosals.  In  vain 
he  put  forth  his  etiorts  to  intimidate  the  haughty  warri(jrs  hy 
exaggerating  the  force  of  his  allies,  they  were  not  to  l»e  balked 
of  their  prey,  and  Tonty  was  allowed  to  retire,  hut  bleeding 
with  a  wound  which  a  faithless  warrior  liad  given  him  in  a  lit 
of  rage  at  liis  etfrontery. 

It  was  evident  to  Tonty  that  the  Illinois  wouM  be  worsted 
in  the  encounter,  and  inasmuch  as  his  presence  would  not  save 
them,  he  with  his  live  coinpanit)ns  started  for  the  mission 
liouse  at  (ireen  Bay.  The  Illiiujis  tied  down  the  river  before 
their  foes,  leaving  everything  they  possessed  behind,  the  most 
valuable  part  of  whicli  was  their  corn.  This  was  destroyed  by 
the  ruthless  invaders,  who  then  returned  to  their  hunting 
ground.s^ — the  present  State  of  New  York — taking  M'ith  them 
a  large  number  of  female  prisoners  who  fell  into  their  hands 
as  tiie  spoils  of  war.  These  were  promptly  idopted  into 
their  tribe  as  supernumerary  wives  for  the  warriors  of  the 
expedition. 

At  the  lirst  night's  encampment  of  Tonty's  party,  Fatlier 
Kibourde  strolled  away  a  short  distance  for  prayer  and  medi- 
tation, when  a  renegade  band  of  Ivickapoos  killed  him,  ])er- 
haps  to  win  his  seal})  to  dangle  froir  one  of  their  belts  as  an 
ornament,  added  to  whicli  might  be  the  sacred  cross  a'  the 
Father  desecrated  into  an  Indian  trinket. 

Tonty's  party  reached  their  destination  after  the  loss  of 
Ribourde,  but  not  witliout  hardships  and  starvation,  that  taxed 
tlieir  endurance  to  its  utmost  limit,  and  here  the  discomfited 
fugitives  rested  for  the  winter. 

La  Salle  had  been  successful  in  raising  new  recruits  for  his 
enterprise,  and  in  his  haste  to  reach  the  Illinois  country  had, 
with  seven  companions,  pushed  forward  in  advance,  while  the 
heavy  material  was  being  transported  by  the  main  body. 


»UC'<;l!>i.S    UK     I. A   .>ALLK.  23 

On  arrivirii^  at  the  Illinois  villaj^r,  iristfatl  of  an  f,\|«'('t»'<l 
|jr«'»'tiiii;  Iroin  trieiuis,  the  scene  <>t'  tlu*  lute  liest ruction  that  Imd 
aijiiiii  thwarted  his  plans  ojteiied  het'ore  him  in  diiinh  silence. 

There  were  no  si<^n>  ot'  liuinan  life  there,  Imt  when  ni^lit 
came  tiie  yelp,-  of  wolves  (jii:;rrelin<;  o\er  the  spoils  of  the 
battle-field  hroki'  harshly  n[>oii  its  silence.  Meantime  the  fate 
of  Tunty  hniii;  in  painful  suspense,  hut  a>  no  trace  of  his  l»ody 
conld  Ix'  t'ound  anioui;  the  ruins,  li<ipe  pari ially  relieved  fear 
that  lie  was  amoiifjf  tlie  slain. 

La  Salle  with  hi>  party  now  retraced  their  steps  to  Fort 
Miamis,  at  the  mouth  «»f  the  St.  rioseph  river,  where  he  met 
his  advancing  men.  and  liere  they  all  spent  tlie  winter. 

The  next  sprinj^  La  Salle  set  about  the  accomplishment  (»f 
liis  ])lans.  Instead  <»f  a  vessel,  canoes  were  to  be  used,  manned 
with  Frenchmen  and  Indian  allies.  The  preparations  for  even 
this  simple  mode  of  transportation  required  tlie  whole  sum- 
mer and  the  followinir  autumn. 

The  Indian  tribes  had  to  l»e  conciliated,  and  an  alliance 
fonned  between  the  Miamias  and  the  Illinois  for  mutual  jjro- 
tection  against  the  Iroquois,  which,  stren<;thened  by  French 
alliance,  satisfied  the  Western  tribes,  and  they  all  acquiesced 
in  La  Salle's  plans. 

The  mouth  of  the  St.  J()sei)h  river  was  the  place  of  rendez- 
vous, and  late  in  December  had  <!;athered  there  a  convention  of 
Indians,  from  whom  La  Salle  selected  18.  wlio.  added  to  his  23 
Frenchmen,  made  a  force  of  41  men;  but  among  the  Indians 
were  10  of  their  wives  and  three  children,  a  requisition  on  tlie 
part  of  the  red  volunteers  that  La  Salle  did  not  see  fit  to  dis- 
allow, thougli  such  an  incumbrance  must  have  been  distasteful 
to  liim. 

Tonty,  who  had  been  heard  from  and  summoned  to  the  spot, 
led  the  advance,  starting  on  the  21st  of  December  along  the 
southern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  •'  Chicagou  "  route 
had  been  determined  on  as  the  most  direct,  on  arriving  at 
which  place  the  river  was  found  to  be  frozen  over.     But  little 


24  I.A  SAI.I.K   A  r    lllK   Mol    III    ilK   TllK    MlShlSSl  I'l'l 

detention  was  csiUised  hy  thif*,  for  Toiity  ^cr  liis  men  :ir,  woj-k 
milking  sledges  tor  tr'xnsportutioii ;  ;iiid  canoes,  l»jigg;ige,  piip- 
pooses  and  cam})  eipiipage  were  loaded  on  them  and  liauled 
by  tlie  men  rapidly  over  river  and  portage,  till  open  water  was 
readied  on  tin;  Illinois.  Here  the  sledges  were  abandone<l 
and  tlie  canoe  tlotilla  lannehed.  which  was  to  bear  its  diversi- 
fied crew  to  distant  and  Tiid<nown  lands,  there  to  take  posses- 
sion of  a  destined  Frencli  empire. 

It  arrived  at  tlie  month  of  the  Mississippi  April  »!,  l.f)8i{, 
and  here  a  hwtre  cross  was  erected  and  a  plate  of  lead  ]>uried 
beside  it,  as  monuments  of  French  possession  of  the  Missis- 
sippi valley.  Prayers,  chants  and  shouts  followed,  in  which 
latter  the  guttural  jargon  c^f  the  Indians  was  mingled,  prob 
ably  with  as  little  sense  of  the  situation  as  the  ronring  of  the 
sea  that  rolled  its  sur:'es  against  this  lonesome  solitude.  The 
country  was  named  Louisiana,  in  honor  of  Louis  XVI.,  and 
the  explorers  left  the  historic  spot  to  tug  their  way  u{)  the  cur- 
rent of  the  Mississippi. 

On  their  arrival  at  the  Illinois  coimtry,  Tonty  was  consti- 
tuted ijovernor  of  it  by  La  Salle,  and  now  bejjan  the  otticial 
line  of  organized  government  here,  though  there  was  nothing 
to  govern  at  the  time  except  a  few  zealous  priests,  who  needed 
no  restraint,  and  a  large  number  of  Indians  whom  no  legal 
forms  could  restrain,  added  to  whom  were  a  score  of  fur- 
traders,  untractable  and  lawless  as  birds  of  passage,  and  almost 
as  transient  in  their  erratic  wanderings. 

The  first  thing  to  do  was  to  build  a  fort,  without  which  no 
auchority  could  exist  even  in  form  The  site  for  this  was 
chosen  on  what  is  now  the  summit  of  Starved  Rock,  near 
Utica,  on  the  Illinois  river.  This  was  done  in  December, 
1(JS2,  and  christened  Fort  St.  Louis  It  pi'oved  a  refuge  of 
safety,  around  which  the  Illinois  tribes  leathered  with  confi- 
«lence,  and  aixain  the  rich  vallevs  which  its  heights  overlook 
swarmed  with  Indian  life,  bidding  defiance  to  Iroquois  inva- 
sion from  under  the  guns  of  French  allies. 


FKKNCU   AM)    KNULJSII     KIVAI.Ii\  ,  25 

The  ctiiise  of  these  invasions  grew  out  of  English  rivalry  in 
the  tur  trade.  Dougan.  tlie  colonial  governor  of  New  York, 
furnished  the  Inxj^uois  with  the  material  wherewith  to  make 
tiiem,  and  these  detiant  warriors  were  ever  ready  to  do  liis  bid- 
ding, for  they  were  dependent  on  the  Englisli  for  guns  and 
ammunition  as  well  as  many  rude  implemetits  of  civilization, 
of  which  they  liad  been  tnught  the  use.*  In  like  manner  such 
Indians  as  were  in  alii;.. ice  with  tlie  French  espoused  tlieir 
cause  against  the  English,  and  often  made  hostile  incursions 
from  Canada  into  the  frontier  English  settlements  adjacent. 
Governor  Dongan's  headquarters  were  at  Albany,  and  from 
here  he  sent  out  men  to  interce])t  the  trade  of  the  F'rench  along 
the  lakes,  for  even  in  this  early  day  the  Western  trade  was  a 
coveted  prize  between  the  French  of  the  .'t.  Lawrence  and  the 
English  of  the  Hudson  river.  This  trade  has  now  multiplied 
a  thousand  ft>ld  in  value,  and  is  chieHy  secured  to  the  Ameri- 
<-aus  by  the  Erie  canal  and  the  various  railroads  that  connect 
Illinois  with  the  Atlantic  seaboard. 

On  the  return  of  La  Salle  to  the  Illinois  country  after  his 
exploration  of  the  Mississippi,  he  learned  with  painful  regrets 
that  P^'ontenac  had  been  recalled  from  the  governorship  of 
Canada,  and  La  Barre  put  in  his  place.  He  was  no  friend  to 
La  Salle,  but,  on  the  contrary,  an  enemy.  He  used  his  official 
authority  against  him  by  stopping  all  supplies  from  Canada 
intended  for  the  Illinois  country,  which  had  now  become  the 
base  of  operations  of  the  French  in  the  interior,  from  which 
advances  could  be  made  to  carrv  out  anv  desiijns  of  P^rench 
aggrandizement  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  and  if  only  a 
moderate  effort  could  be  made  to  keep  a  few  men  there  sixp- 
plied  with  ammunition,  the  trading  interests  would  take  care 
of  themselves  and  bring  a  revenue  to  the  French  crown. 

In  vain  La  Salle  besoutrhtthe  new  Governor  to  sustain  him  in 
cairving  out  this  policy.  He  was  im])ervions  to  his  entreaties, 
and  sneered  at  his  labors  and  Idk  plans  as  worse  than  useless. 

*Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York. 


26  LA  SAM.K    IN    TKXAS. 

La  Salle  now  determined  to  go  to  France  and  make  an  ap- 
peal to  the  kin^,  and  with  this  resolution  left  the  Illinois- 
country  late  in  the  autumn  of  1883  for  Canada.  <^)n  his  way 
he  met  a  delegation  from  La  Barre,  under  command  of  De 
KiiUgis,  armed  with  authority  to  assume  command  of  Fi»rt  8t. 
Louis,  and  act  as  jrovernor  of  the  countrv.  Tontv  submitted 
to  his  authority,  and  there  appears  to  have  been  a  good  under- 
standing between  him  and  the  new  governor.  T(jnty,  with 
his  characteristic  force  and  courage,  repelled  an  Iroquois  inva- 
sion which  soon  followed,  although  he  was  withonc  official 
authority. 

La  Salle  sailed  for  France,  reached  the  ear  of  the  king,  and 
through  the  influence  of  his  friends,  together  with  his  own 
force  of  purpose,  secured  the  royal  favor. 

Now  the  tables  were  turned.  Tonty  was  restored  to  the 
governorship  of  the  Illinois  coiintry,  and  La  Salle  himself  was 
put  in  command  of  a  fleet  to  sail  for  the  mouth  of  the  Missis- 
sippi and  establish  a  French  colony  at  the  place.  By  mistake 
the  fleet  landed  at  Metagorda  Bay,  on  the  coast  of  Texas. 
Here  the  ill-fated  colony  languished  for  two  years,  at  which 
time  they  were  almost  exhausted  by  disease  and  death,  ;uid 
La  Salle  formed  the  resolution  of  going  back  to  the  Illinois 
country  to  obtain  succor.  Selecting  a  few  hardy  companions 
he  started,  but  was  assassinated  by  one  of  his  own  men  on  the 
l)anks  of  the  Trinity  river.  Seven  of  his  party  reached  the 
Illinois  in  safety,  but  the  hapless  colony  all  perished  in  their 
forlorn  hermitaire.  Tontv  meantime  held  command  at  his 
post,  protecting  French  interests  there  and  establishing  an 
authorit}-  which,  but  for  the  fortunes  of  the  French  and  Indian 
war  of  the  next  century,  would  have  made  Illinois  a  French 
State,  siibject  to  a  French  king.  The  French  settlements  of 
Southern  Illinois  were  permanent,  and  were  the  first  substan- 
tial results  of  the  foregoing  discoveries  and  explorations. 
Much  uncertainty  has  hitherto  existed  as  to  the  date  of  the 
commencement  of  these  settlements,  but  the  following  para- 


SErrLEMENT    OK    KASKASKIA.  27 

j^niph  which  Mr.  ,J.  G.  Shea  has  given  t(»  the  writer  will  settle 
the  (juestioii: 

''THK    MISSION    OK     THE      IMMACII.ATK      CONCEmoN      AMONd      THE 

KASKASKIAS." 

"•  Tills  mission  dates  from  September,  HtlH,  when  Father 
Marquette  visited  the  Kaskaskias  at  their  town  on  tlie  upper 
Illinois  river.  Tt  l)ore  the  name  Kaskaskia.  and  consisted  of 
sixty-nine  cabins.* 

'•  Tt  was  on  the  Illiju)i.-'  river,  about  six  miles  below  the 
•nouth  of  the  Fox  river.-j-  Having  jn'omised  to  return  and 
establish  a  mission  ainon^  them,  he  set  out  in  Xoveniber, 
1674,  wintered  at  Chicago,  and  on  Easter,  1675,  reached  Kas- 
kaskia, beginning  the  mission  under  the  name  of  the  Immacu- 
late Conception. ;|;  Finding  his  malady  increasing,  he  en- 
deavored to  reach  Macinac,  but  died  on  the  way.  Father 
Claude  AHouez  renewed  the  mission  April  27th,  1()77,  and 
continued  it  till  La  Salle's  expedition  reached  Illinois.  The 
Rec(dlects  began  a  mission  at  Fort  Creve  Cceur,  l)ut  none  at 
Kaskaskia,  and  the  mission  there  soon  closed.  Allonez  sub- 
sequently returned,  and  was  succeeded  in  ir»90  by  Father 
James  Gravier,  who  established  the  mission  on  a  firm  basis 
about  l(i93.|| 

"  \yhen  the  French  began  a  settlement  at  the  month  of  the 
Mississippi  in  1H99,  several  northern  tribes  prepared  to  go 
down  and  settle  there.  The  Kaskaskias  went  to  the  Missis- 
sippi in  1700,  but  w'ere  induced  to  wait  and  settle  at  the  pres- 
ent Kaskaskia.^    The  mi  ->ion  and  town  retained  the  old  name. 

••THE    MISSION    AT     CAHOKIA     AND    TAMAKOA. 

"  This  mission  was  founded  about  1700  by  Father  Francis 
Pinet,  but  the  next  year  the  mission  was  transferred  from  the 

*Discovfrj'  of  the  Mississippi,  p.  51. 
+Le('kTcque,  Vol.  II,  p.  117. 
^Discovery  of  the  ilississippi,  p.  56. 
IGravier's  Kclation,  1693. 
^Gravier's  Journal  du  Voyage. 


28  FORT    CIIAKTKKS. 

Jesuits  to  priests  sent  from  the  semiiiarv  of  Quehec.  Rev. 
Mr.  Burgiir  was  the  Urst.  After  a  time  they  conliTied  tiiem- 
selves  to  the  care  of  the  French  settlers  and  left  tlio  Indians  to 
the  Jesuits.*  The  Quebec  priests  remained  at  Tamaroa  till 
the  fall  of  French  power." 

Nut  long  alter  the  settlements  of  Kaskaskia  and  Cahokia, 
the  circumstances  of  which  have  just  been  told  by  Mr.  Shea, 
other  French  towns  were  established  near  by  tliem,  altogfther 
constitutiui;  a  thriving  settlement  midwav  between  Canada 
and  the  settlements  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river.  To 
protect  them  Fort  Chartres  was  built,  being  finished  in  IT'iO. 
It  was  at  that  time  the  strongest  fort  in  Xortli  America. 
Some  relics  of  it  still  remain  as  a  monument  of  French  power 
in  Illinois,  but  part  of  it  has  been  undermined  b^'the  wearing 
away  of  the  river  bank,  while  much  of  the  stone  of  which  it 
was  originally  built  has  been  ap])ropriated  for  private  use.  No 
hostile  shot  was  ever  fired  against  its  walls,  and  if  French 
power  had  been  as  invulnerable  against  attack  at  her  outermost 
limits  as  at  this  place,  she  would  have  remained  tlie  great 
power  in  America  till  political  revolution  had  wrought  what 
foreign  foes  were  unable  to  do. 

*Shea's  Catholic  Mission,  pp.  421-2. 


THE   OHIO    COMPANY.  29 


CHAin^ER    III. 


ILLINOIS  UM)1:J{  ENGLISH  RULE. 

From  the  previous  chapter  it  is  seen  that  French  posses- 
sions in  America  extended  from  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence  to 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  inchiding  in  its  still  but  partially  ex- 
plored territory  the  wliole  country  drained  1;y  the  vi^t.  Law- 
rence and  Mississippi  rivers. 

The  English  colonies  were  then  confined  U>  a  narrow  belt 
of  land  along  the  x\tlantie  coast,  insignificant  in  size  couijiared 
to  the  French  possessions. 

As  each  of  these  nationalities  increased  in  numbers  and  ex- 
tended their  settlements,  the  boundary  question  between  them 
came  uj),  and  increased  in  importance  till  the  frontier  occupa- 
tion of  the  questionable  territory  by  the  two  rival  nations 
brought  their  interests  in  collision  Avith  each  other. 

This  rivalry  took  place  on  the  headwaters  of  the  Qhio  river, 
the  iirst  exciting  cause  of  which  was  the  formation  uf  the 
Ohio  Company,  under  a  grant  from  the  English  crown.  This 
grant  was  obtained  by  ]\Ir.  Ilanbuiy,  of  London,  for  a  tract  of 
country  within  the  present  limits  of  the  State  of  Ohio.  The 
conqjany  was  composed  of  eight  associates,  of  whom  Law- 
rence, Augustine  and  George  "Washington  were  three.  Meas- 
ures were  taken  by  the  Ohio  Conqiany  to  occupy  these  lands 
by  commencing  to  build  a  fort  where  Fittsburg  now  stands, 
but  the  men  thus  employed  wei*e  driven  away  by  a  large  force 
of  French  and  Indians,  and  this  was  the  beginning  of  the 
French  and  Indian  war. 


80  KKKNCU   AND    INPIAN  WAK. 

The  contest  lasted  tVoiii  I7n4  to  1751».  It  involved  nearly 
the  whole  of  Europe  in  its  stru<j^<i^le,  tor  its  issue  was  entangled 
with  the  old  (jucstion  as  t<»  the  halance  of  ])ower  on  the  conti- 
nent. The  Indian  trihes  of  (!an:ida,  and  those  alon<^  the  lakes 
and  the  Oliio  river,  as  well  as  the  Irocjuois  of  the  New  York 
colony  and  the  Delawares  of  the  Susquehanna,  were  all  on  the 
war-path  to  help  settle  this  question,  which  was  the  most  mo- 
mentous one  the  world  had  yet  seen,  as  the   result  has  shown. 

AVolfe's  victory  on  the  lieicrhts  t)f  Abraham,  Sept.  13th, 
17.")9,  was  the  last  and  the  decisixe  battle  which  settled  it. 
By  the  liat  of  war  the  boundary  line  between  the  PVench 
and  Eno^lish  possessions  in  America  was  established  on  the 
!Mississi]>pi  instead  of  the  Ohio  river,  and  all  the  territory 
east  of  this  boundary,  as  far  south  as  the  Sj)anish  possessions 
of  Florida,  and  the  French  settlements  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Mississip})i  south  of  the  thirty-first  parallel,  fell  into  English 
liands,  according  to  the  definitive  treaty  of  peace  which  ter- 
minated the  war.  The  preliminary  treaty,  of  which  the  de- 
finitive one  was  the  substance,  was  executed  between  General 
Amherst,  commander  of  the  English  forces,  and  ]M.  de  Van- 
dreuil,  French  Cxovernor  of  Canada,  bearing  date  at  Montreal, 
Sej)tember  Sth,  lliiO.  As  soon  as  it  was  signed  the  English 
proceeded  to  take  possession  of  the  immense  country  ac- 
(juired  by  it  as  fast  as  it  could  be  done.  To  do  this  was  a 
work  t)f  no  small  magnitude,  as  the  sequel  proved. 

The  entire  native  ])(»pulation  of  the  country  had  learned  to 
love  the  French  during  generations  of  harmonious  relations 
with  them,  and  they  had  fought  on  their  side  during  the  late 
war.  Not  an  Englishman  had  then  settled  northwest  of  the 
Ohio  river;  the  Indians  held  the  whole  countrv  with  a  tena- 
cions  grip,  and  had  no,  even  distant  fear,  that  the  English  would 
ever  be  able  to  dispossess  them  of  it.  They  were  willing  to 
harbor  them  as  traders,  but  that  was  all. 

On  the  29th  of  November,  1700,  Detroit  was  taKen  posses- 
sion of  by  the  English  under  Major  Robert  Rogers.   The  next 


Vii.NTIAC.  'M 

•summer  Michilimiiciiiac,  Ste.  Mai'i:i,  at  the  oiitU't  of  Lake  Su- 
perior, (rreen  Bay,  St.  Josej)]!  and  Samlusky,  were  also  taken 
|>(»:<sessiou  uf  l)y  tlu'  Engli>]i.  Tliese  M-ere  all  the  places  where 
the  French  held  posts  in  the  conquered  country  which  had  not 
fallen  into  the  liands  of  the  English  durinj^  the  war,  I'xcept 
A'inceunes  and  Fort  Ouatanon,  on  the  Wahash.  and  the  clus- 
ter of  French  towns  in  Southern  Illinois.  Neither  of  these 
two  latter  places,  in  their  distant  remoteness  from  the  scenes 
of  the  late  war,  had  heen  even  threatened  with  invasion,  lint 
hefore  any  steps  ha<l  been  taken  to  estahlish  Enjj^li.-h  rnlf  over 
them,  the  Avestern  tribes,  under  Pontiac,  determineii  to  drive 
the  English  from  the  new  jiosts  they  had  already  occupii'il. 
With  this  end  in  view  a  secret  conspiracy  was  planned  by 
Pontiac,  and  a  simultaneous  attack  nuide  u])on  each,  resulting 
in  the  capture  i>f  all  of  them  except  Detroit  and  Fort  Pitt 
(Pittsburg).  The  Indians  now  reigaed  triumphant  through- 
out the  entire  northwest,  and  kept  up  the  siege  of  Detroit 
under  Pontiac,  their  great  leader,  till  August  20th,  17»»o, 
when  the  arrival  (»f  (reneral  Ih-adsti'eet  witli  a  large  force  re- 
lieved the  place  and  dispersed  the  red  assailants  who  had 
closely  pressed  the  garrison  for  t)ver  a  vea  ■■.  and  reduced  them 
to  the  verge  of  starvation. 

Fort  Pitt  was  also  besieged,  but  not  so  closely,  till  (General 
r)ou(piet  relieved  the  place  during  the  same  month  It  now 
only  remained  to  take  possession  of  the  French  settlements  of 
the  Illinois  country,  and  Vincennes  on  the  "Wabash,  to  fulfill 
the  provisicjns  of  the  treaty  at  the  termination  of  the  French 
and  Indian  war. 

Four  years  had  elapsed  since  the  date  of  this  preliminary 
treatv,  and  the  time  seemed  as  distant  as  ever  when  the  Enir- 
lish  could  venture  into  the  country  with  safety,  especially  as 
an  immense  domain  of  forest  intervened  between  it  and  their 
isettlements  along  the  Atlantic  coast.  The  first  attempt  to  do 
this  was  to  send  a  force  up  the  Mississippi  river,  for  the  les- 
son taught  by  the  bloody  experience  of  the  late  war  with  Pon- 


32  ST.    ANOK. 

tiac  hiul  tauijlit  (reiu'ral  (ratrt',  tin'  Iiritisli  officer  iiuw  in  com- 
ni!iii<l  ot'  Aiiu'rica,  a  diu'  dcijrcc  of  caution,  and  lie  did  not 
deem  it  practicable  t(»  send  a  force  .so  far  into  wilds  filled  witli 
Indians  of  still  doubtful  frieiulshij).  Accordingly  a  force  of 
3('(»  men  under  Major  J.oftus  was  dis})atclied  from  liayou 
Maiicliae,  an  En<j^lisli  post  on  the  Gulf  of  j\Iexico,  to  ascend 
the  Mississippi  in  barges  to  the  French  settlements  in  the  Illi- 
nois country.  While  laboring  against  tlie  current  on  his  way. 
lie  was  suddenly  attacked  by  the  Tonica  Indians,  who  ]>oured 
a  volley  of  shot  among  his  men  first  from  one  sideof  tlie  river 
and  tlien  from  the  other,  and  he  beat  a  retreat  down  stream, 
abandoning  farther  attemjits  to  reach  the  })lace  in  question. 

The  situation  was  now  com]>licated  "n  tlie  extreme.  Pon- 
tiac.  tliough  driven  from  the  field,  was  still  a  ])ower  among  tlie 
Indian  tribes  of  the  interior,  with  whom  the  French  of  South- 
ern Illinois  were  on  the  best  of  terms,  through  motives  of  both 
j)olicy  and  friendship. 

After  being  driven  from  Detroit,  Pontiac  had  taken  refuge 
at  the  French  villages  of  the  Illinois,  over  whom  the  discreet 
and  l)enevolent  St.  Ange  still  exercised  an  authority  both  of- 
ficial and  paternal.  To  him  Pontiac  applied  far  succor  to  pro- 
long the  fight.  It  would  not  do  to  offend  the  fallen  chieftain, 
nor  would  it  do  to  grant  his  request,  and  the  governor  was  at 
liis  wit's  end  for  a  ruse  to  g(  out  of  the  dilemma  ;  still  he 
managed,  by  dint  of  much  circumspection,  to  preserve  the 
friendship  of  the  importunate  representative  of  Indian  inter- 
ests without  allying  tlie  French  to  his  hopeless  cause. 

Pending  these  years  of  suspense  French  traders  were  driv- 
ing a  profitable  business  in  buffalo  hides  and  peltries,  for 
which  merchandise  they  found  a  ready  market  at  St.  Louis 
and  New  Orleans.  This  increased  the  difticulties  of  carrvinsr 
out  the  provisions  of  the  treaty,  for  when  the  English  flag 
should  float  over  the  ramparts  of  Fort  Chartres,  English  mer- 
chants would  succeed  French,  and  trade  would  seek  an  outlet 
by  the  way  of  the   lakes  instead  of  down   the  river.     Of  so 


OEOKOE    CKOOAN.  33 

tiiucli  importance  was  t)ie  question  of  conunerejal  rivalry  be- 
twt'eii  the  French  ot"  New  Orleans  an<l  tin;  En<,'llsli  of  J)etroit, 
that  Sir  William  Johnsoji,  Superintendent  of  Intlian  Atl'airs, 
was  instructed  hy  tlie  London  P>oard  of  Trade  to  take  early 
and  effectual  measures  to  secure  the  trade  of  the  Illinois.*  He 
had  in  Ids  employ  at  this  time  an  able  officer  named  George 
Crogan,  whose  mission  had  been  to  act  as  his  deputy  at  distant 
points  in  the  wilderness,  and  to  him  Sir  William  assigned  the 
task  of  going  to  the  place  in  question  to  reconcile  the  iidial)- 
itants,  both  Indian  and  French,  to  the  English,  as  a  prepara- 
tory step  towards  otHcial  occupation.  Fort  Pitt  was  the  place 
from  which  he  was  to  embark  on  tlie  important  but  dangerous 
mission  Here  he  was  detained  a  month  to  receive  the  last 
installment  of  captives  from  the  Shawanese,  which  they  had 
the  year  before  stipulated  by  treaty  to  give  up,  and  under  an 
impression  that  no  time  should  be  lost  in  sending  an  Fnglish 
de])uty  to  the  Illinois,  he  dispatched  an  intrepid  scout  named 
Frazier,  M'ith  a  feM'  attendants,  down  the  Ohio  river,  with 
instructions  to  jiroceed  immediately  tt>  Kaskaskia  and  inform 
the  authorities  there  that  the  acjeiiu  of  Sir  AVilliani  dohnson 
would  soon  follow,  with  power  to  act  for  him.  Frazier 
reached  the  place  in  due  season,  and  was  well  received  by  the 
iidiabitants,  but  the  traders  soon  got  u})  a  conspiracy  to  kill 
him,  for  they  well  knew  that  his  mission  was  unfavorable  to 
their  interests.  To  save  himse'f  from  their  murderous  hands 
he  sought  the  protection  of  Pinitiac,  and  although  this  chief 
hated  the  English  v  ith  double  intensity,  nevertheless  he  was 
a  tenacious  stickler  for  conventional  formalities,  and  wf)uld 
allow  no  violence  done  to  the  Englishman,  whom  he  regarded 
in  the  light  of  an  ambassador. 

It  was  early  in  May,  1765.  that  (Vogan  started  down  the 
Ohio  river  from  Fort  Pitt.  At  various  places  on  the  way  he 
was  detained  to  execute  official  business  with  Indian  tribes, 
and  it  was  the  6th  of  June  when   he  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 

*See  Johnson  Papers  in  Doc.  Hist,  of  New  York. 
8 


34  1*0NTIA(;    MKKTS    CKiHiAN. 

the  Wabash.  No  English  delt'gatiun  liad  ever  before  })eue- 
tnited  80  I'sir  into  the  wilds  except  Fnizier's  party,  and  here  he 
encamped  to  take  time  to  consider  the  situation.  On  the  8th 
lie  was  attacked  hy  80  l\icka]tov)  warriors;  five  of  his  men 
were  killed  and  he  himself  slightly  wounded,  when  he  gave  up 
liis  comnnind  as  prisoners.  Tliis  skirmish  took  place  on  tiie 
soil(»f  Illinois,  just  below  the  nioulh  (if  the  Wabasli.  Crogan 
and  liis  band  were  taken  up  the  Wabash  to  Vincennes,  which 
was  then  a  French  village  of  eighty  houses,  near  whicli  was  a 
large  Piankesha  village.*  By  this  time  the  Kickapoos  had 
discovered  that  their  captive  was  a  man  not  to  be  trifled  with, 
and  they  regarded  him  more  in  the  light  of  a  superior  than  a 
prisoner. 

Having  been  unable  to  reach  his  destination,  he  wished  to 
send  a  letter  to  St.  Ange,  the  lawgiver  and  priest  of  the  Illi- 
nois country,  and  a  messenger  was  promptly  at  his  biilding  to 
carry  it.  The  French  furnished  him  the  j)a^)er  on  which  to 
write  it,  but  not  till  the  Indians  had  given  their  consent.  This 
done,  he  was  conducted  up  the  river  to  Ouatanon,  at  which 
place  he  arrived  the  23d.  Here  he  was  set  at  liberty,  and 
after  holding  councils  with  various  tribes  of  the  country,  he 
started  on  the  18th  of  Julv  for  the  Illinois  villaijes.  On  the 
way  he  met  Pontiac  at  the  head  of  a  delegation  of  Indians. 
Hitherto  this  unrelenting  warrior  had  refused  all  conciliatory 
meetings  with  the  English,  but  iu>w  for  the  first  time  his  stub- 
born resolution  gave  way,  and  he  consented  to  confer  with 
Crogan  as  to  jieaceful  relations,  and  the  wluile  party  returned 
to  Ouatanon  for  that  ])urpose.  After  their  arrival  at  the 
place  Pontiac  renounced  his  hostile  policy,  and  promised  to  use 
his  influence  in  favor  of  peace.  This,  together  with  the  general 
acquiesence  in  the  English  occupation  of  the  country  already 
obtained,  was  all  Crogan  could  ask,  and  made  it  unnecessary 
for  him  to  visit  the  Illinois  country  according  to  his  first  in- 
tention. 
*Crogan's  Journal. 


ENfrl.ISH    INtS^KSSION    OK    ILLINOIS.  86 

He  now  started  tor  Detroit,  wliert'  lie  iigaiii  (•(ninseled  with 
the  Tmliiuis,  and  from  thence  .starti-d  tor  the  heaihjuarterrt  of 
Sir  William  Johnson  on  the  Mohawk  river,  to  whom  he  made 
his  report. 

In  accordance  with  the  original  jdaii.  the  military  commis- 
sion which  was  to  follow  ("rogan  emharkcd  from  Tort,  Pitt  in 
the  autumn  of  the  same  year — 1705.  It  consisted  of  about 
120  men  from  the  4'2d  regiment  of  llighhuulers,  under  Cap- 
tain iSterling.  They  arrived  at  Fort  Chartres  hy  way  of  the 
Oliio  and  Mississipjii  rivers  on  the  lOth  of  October,  and  for 
tlie  first  time  within  the  limits  t»f  the  j)resent  State  of  Illinois 
the  Lilies  of  T' ranee  fell  from  tlie  flagstaff',  and  the  Cross  of 
St.  George  rose  in   its  place. 

This  was  the  last  ofticial  act  that  had  despoiled  France  of 
her  transcendent  possessions  on  the  American  continent,  for 
already  she  had,  in  1702,  ceded  New  Orleans  and  lier  territory 
west  of  the  Mississippi  to  Spain. 

The  French  population  of  the  Illinois  villages  at  this  time, 
together  witli  St.  Louis,  was  about  2,000,  added  to  whom  were 
about  500  slaves. 

Tlie  first  thing  to  be  done  after  possession  liad  been  taken 
was  to  issue  the  proclamation  which  General  Gage  had  pre- 
pared for  tlie  occasion.  It  guaranteed  freedom  to  the  inhab- 
itants in  religious  matters  as  well  as  in  their  civil  rights.  But 
the  former  was  all  the  Frenchman  of  that  day  cared  for.  He 
had  no  ambition  to  take  a  hand  in  the  mysteries  of  govern- 
ment or  to  make  any  nice  distinction  as  to  any  other  rights 
except  the  right  to  obey  his  priest  and  his  magistrate.  Such 
was  the  early  Frenchman  of  Illinois— -law-abiding,  simjtleand 
happy. 

Three  months  after  his  arrival  Captain  Sterling  died,  and 
!Major  Frazier  succeeded  him  as  governor.  Early  in  the  spring 
the  English  troops  left  the  country  by  the  way  of  the  Missis- 
sippi river  for  Pensacola,  from  whence  they  sailed  for  Phila- 
delphia, arriving  there  the  15th  of  June. 


'.Wt  Till-:  QiKHKC!  HI  1,1,. 

(!o|oiH'l  llcetl  Hiic'cetMled  l'"mzi»'r  H6  jrovt'rnor,  hut  iiiiulL-  him- 
self (Mlitius  to  the  iiihiil)itiints  hy  ati  oppresniv*'  .system  ot"  mili- 
tary rulin*^  ill  suit*'. I  ti>  tlif  tHrmcr  sulijeets  «>i  tin-  lienevoleiit 
St.  Ani,'«'. 

Thf  iit'xt,  ill  conmiuiHl  \va>  (Viloiu'l  \Viil<ins,  who  arrivcnl  in 
Ka.-kaskiii  Sr'jtt.  ')th,  J7*»S.  On  the  "ilstut"  S»'j)tt'iiiltLT  follow- 
ing^ lie  roceivcd  onirrs  from  (Teiieml  (TUi^*'  to  rstahlish  ii  court 
of  justice.  Sevfii  ju<l<;es  were  appointed,  imd  the  first 
En^Iisli  court  ever  toiiveiie<l  in  llliiioi.-  held  its  sessions  at 
Fort  Chartrt's  I)ee.  !>th,  17r)S.  h  is  not  known  how  long 
(jolonel  Wiikins  remained  in  other,  or  what  Eni(lish  governor 
8ueeeede<l  him,  l>ut  it  is  known  that  ISt.  An;;e  again  returned 
to  his  loving  charge,  after  having  been  ruler  over  St.  Louis, 
whieli  had  become  a  Spanisli  town  in   1762,  as  already  stated. 

The  groundwork  of  the  Knglish  policy  on  taking  possession 
of  the  country  was  foreshadowed  l)y  ii  jtroclamation  issui'd  by 
(reorire  III.,  Oct.  "J4th,  17«'.r>,  and  aijain  bv  a  proclamation  in 
177-.*  Tht'.-e  jirochunations  forbade  private  ownership  to  the 
soil,  and  the  inference  is  plain  that  he  intended  to  divide  the 
whole  country  uj*  into  baronial  estates.  Had  it  been  settled 
l»y  ('anadian  Frenchmen,  such  an  attempt  might  have  been 
successful,  ]>ut  the  y-rowth  of  the  countrv  stimidated  the  am- 
Itition  of  its  inhabitants  into  higher  and  l)roader  channels,  and 
a  more  general  dispensation  of  natin'e's  gifts  in  this  wealth- 
producing  country  than  a  baronial  policy  would  admit  of. 

On  the  2d  of  .lune,  177-1,  the  British  Parliament  ptissed  an 
act  entitled  '"The  Quebec  Bill.""  This  act  extended  the  limits 
of  (./anada  so  as  to  include  all  the  territory  north  of  the  Ohio 
river.  This  was  the  first  official  act  of  Parliament  that  gave 
offense  to  tlu;  colonists.  It  abridged  the  limits  of  the  Virginia 
colony,  which  claimed  the  territory  across  the  Ohio  by  virtue 
of  her  original  charter,  and  besides  this,  it  disap])ointed  the 
ambitions  of  j)rivate  companies  who  were  at  that  time  contem- 
l)lating  emigration  to  the  valley  of  the  Ohio.     Certain  acts  of 

♦Colonial  Roconls  of  Pi  nn. 


R(MIIKB1.AVK.  87 

T/)nl  r>utiTnorp.  tli»'  last  colonial  ijoveniftr  ot  Vir;;iiiiu.  i^avc 
otltiisc  t<t  the  hordrr  iiien,  who  in  tiini  avowed  thrir  iirincipU-s 
and  piirposi's  in  oniition's  lanj;uairi',*  which  (dearly  foretold  the 
Revolution,  even  Itet'ore  any  action  had  heen  taki'ii  at  I'oston 
or  I'hilach'iphia.  As  hetore  stated,  the  Ih'itisli  soldiers  were 
withdrawn  tro!n  the  Illinois  country  hnt  few  months  after  their 
arrival  there,  and  there  are  no  records  that  any  more  English 
soldiers  were  ever  sent  to  tiie  place,  or  that  any  Kn^dish  <,'ov- 
ernor  was  ever  sent  to  the  couniry  after  Wilkins'  term,  and 
the  conclnsion  seems  final  that  the  peo])le  here  were  left  to 
execute  their  own  laws,  first  under  St.  An^e,  as  already  told, 
and  next  under  Rochehlave,  who  was  a  Frenchman,  though 
loval  to  British  interests,  as  he  should  he,  the  ountrv  havinjr 
passed  into  British  hands.  The  latter — Rochei»lave-  was 
in  command  of  the  Illinois  country  just  previous  t(»  its  con- 
quest by  Clark,  tne  history  of  which  will  he  told  in  the  next 
chapter. 

*S(  <•  Dillon  s  Indiana,  BlancJianl's  >iorthW(st,  undur  lu-mi  of  "  Dunmore's 
War." 


38  THK    AMEKIOAN    UOVKKNMENT    OKUAMZKI). 


CHAPTER    IV 


ILLINOIS  UNDER  AMEKKAN  RULE. 

The  Continental  Oonjrress  of  thirteen  En<^lish  colonies 
assembled  at  Philadelphia  September  5th,  1774.  It  was  rep- 
resented by  each  colony,  and  soon  afterwards  took  upon  itself 
the  functions  of  a  government  of  its  own  creation  as  a  substi- 
tute for  English  authority. 

On  the  13th  of  July,  1775.  three  Indian  departments  were 
instituted — a  southern,  nortliern  and  middle.  To  the  latter 
the  Illinois  country  was  assigned.  Benjamin  Franklin  and 
James  Wilson,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Patrick  Henry,  of  Vir- 
ginia, were  appointed  commissioners  for  the  middle  depart- 
ment. Its  remoteness  prevented  any  practical  results  from 
growing  out  of  this  organization.  Nevertheless  it  is  worthy 
of  record  as  being  the  first  official  action  taken  by  the  new 
government  to  extend  its  authority  over  this  distant  settlement. 

The  next  year,  1776,  on  the  10th  of  April,  Colonel  George 
Morgan,  who  had  been  a  trader  at  Kaskaskia,  was  appointed 
agent  to  succeed  the  former  ones  of  this  department.  His 
residence  was  at  Fort  Pitt,  from  whence  he  was  required  to 
visit  the  western  tribes  for  the  purpose  of  cultivating  their 
friendship.  But  the  English  agents  liad  already  been  among 
them,  and  not  mucli  was  accomulished  by  the  Americans 
through  Indian  alliances. 

Meantime  the  American  Revolution  was  soon  in  full  tide 
of  progress,  and  none  took  more  interest  in  it  than  the  fron- 
tier men  of  Virginia,  and  none  were  more  willing  to   make 

*St'('  Journal  of  Continental  Congress. 


OLAKK's    C0N<4LKST    of    ILLINOIS.  39 

sacritices  to  brinii^  it  to  a  successful  termination.  Prominent 
among  tliese  men  was  Colonel  (ieorge  Rogers  Clark,  a  native 
of"  Albemarle  Co.,  Va.  The  settlements  of  Kentucky  were 
then  begun,  and  Clark  was  among  the  settlers,  but  left  for  Vir- 
ginia on  the  1st  of  October,  177T,  for  the  purpose  of  laying  a 
plan  before  Patrick  Henry,  the  governor,  for  the  conquest  of  the 
Illinois  country.  After  several  interviews.  Governor  Henry 
gave  his  consent  to  his  plans,  and  he  immediately  set  about 
the  execution  of  them. 

The  utmost  secrecy  was  necessary,  for  had  it  been  known  in 
advance  the  English  could  have  sent  a  force  from  Detroit  to 
waylay  him  on  his  march  to  the  place,  and  also  to  garrison 
Fort  Gage  at  Kaskaskia  with  a  strong  force.  As  a  blind 
to  the  real  destination  of  the  expedition.  Governor  Henry  first 
gave  Clark  instructions  to  proceed  to  the  Kentucky  settlements 
for  the  purpose  of  defending  them  against  Indian  attack.  These 
were  published,  and  gave  rise  to  murmurs  among  the  revolu- 
tionary spirits  of  the  border  that  soldiers  should  be  sent  on 
such  an  errand,  when  they  were  needed  in  front  to  fight  the 
British. 

The  expedition  embarked  from  Pittsburg,  and,  as  Clark  ex- 
pressed it,  ''shot  the  falls"  at  Louisville  on  the  24th  of  June, 
kept  on  down  the  river  to  '-  a  little  above  Fort  Massac,''  and 
from  thence  marched  across  the  country  to  Kaskaskia.  The 
place  contained  about  1,000  inhabitants,  and  was  defended  by 
a  fort  named  Fort  Gage,  in  honor  of  the  British  General  Gage. 

'Twas  on  the  evening  of  the  ith  of  July  that  Clark  arrived 
at  the  place.  There  were  no  British  soldiers  there,  but  a  small 
company  of  French  did  garrison  at  the  fort.  These,  as  well 
as  the  private  citizens,  were  completely  taken  by  surprise.  The 
presence  of  Americans  in  the  streets  of  Kaskaskia,  and  even 
in  the  fort,  was  the  first  signal  of  invasion,  and  victory  was 
won  before  resistance  was  thought  of.  The  governor  and  a 
liew  leading  citizens  were  seized  and  put  in  irons,  and  every 
inhabitant  was  ordered  to  remain  in  his  house  on  pain  of  being 


40  CLARK'S    CONQUEST    OF    ILLINOIS. 

shot  if  found  in  the  street.  Meanwhile  the  conquerors  made 
night  hideous  by  their  tumult  and  outcries  as  they  patrolled 
the  streets  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  terrified  citizens. 

The  Americans  had  been  represented  to  them  as  monsters 
of  cruelty,  and  their  demeanor  thus  far  seemed  to  verify  the 
truth  of  such  an  assertion.  Clark  had  already  been  informed 
of  these  slanders  against  him  and  his  men,  and,  with  a  deep 
and  far-seeing  mental  analysis  of  the  harmless  villagers  who 
now  lay  prostrate  at  his  feet,  determined  to  turn  the  unjust 
falsehoods  to  his  own  advantage.  His  plan  was  first  to  bring 
them  to  the  verge  of  despair,  and  then,  by  a  sudden  transition 
of  clemency,  overwhelm  them  with  transports  of  joy. 

Pending  the  painful  suspense,  M.  Gibault,  the  priest,  with 
a  few  of  the  aged  citizens,  came  to  the  quarters  of  General 
Clark  and  begged  that  the  inhabitants  might  be  permitted  to 
assemble  in  their  church  to  take  their  last  leave  of  each 
other  before  being  separated.  Their  request  was  granted  them 
on  the  ground  that  the  Americans  left  every  man  free  to  settle 
his  religious  matters  with  his  God  ;  but  no  one  must  leave 
the  town.  The  injunction  was  obeyed,  and  after  their  meeting 
was  over  Gibault  and  a  few  others  again  visited  Clark,  and, 
under  the  expectation  that  they  were  all  to  be  driven  from 
their  homes,  requested  that  they  might  be  allowed  to  take  a 
small  amount  of  provisions  with  them,  and  a  few  articles  of 
immediate  necessity,  and  above  all,  that  mothers  and  children 
should  not  be  separated.  Clark  listened  to  these  humble  pe- 
titions with  apparent  astonishment,  and  in  reply  said,  -'  Do 
you  take  us  for  savages?" 

Hitherto  with  impenetrable  immobility  he  had  presented  a 
harsh  exterior  towards  them,  but  now  the  picture  was  changed, 
and  never  did  the  bright  side  of  human  nature  through  a 
rough  exterior  sho-w  to  better  advantage. 

They  were  not  to  be  driven  from  their  homes  or  plundered 
of  their  property,  nor  were  they  to  be  denied  the  rites  of 
their  religion.     He  liad  come  among  them  for  a  far  diflferent 


OLAKK's    CONt^UEST    O!'    ILLINOIS.  41 

])urpose.  Uis  mission  was  to  introduce  the  new  government 
in  tlieir  midst  and  oifer  to  take  them  under  its  protection — a 
government  that  France  had  just  allied  itself  to,  which  was 
news  to  them — it  liavini;  been  sent  to  Chirk  after  he  left  Fort 
Pitt. 

The  effect  of  this  unexpected  magnanimity  was  like  a  sud- 
den recoil  from  despair  to  the  full  fruition  of  the  heart's  desire, 
and  the  volatile  Frencli  gave  vent  to  their  feelings  in  trans- 
ports of  joy.  The  stock  ot  the  new  government  rose  above 
jiar.  Cahokia  and  all  the  other  adjacent  towns  prom])tly 
yielded  to  Clark's  authority,  and  young  America  hecame  firmly 
planted  on  the  soil  of  Illinois. 

This  was  hut  the  initiatory  step  in  the  wo>i"k  before  the  hold 
adventurer.  P^'ive  huinlred  miles  of  wilderness  intervened 
between  him  and  Fort  Pitt,  the  nearest  post  from  wliicli 
succor  could  be  obtained  in  case  of  a  reverse.  The  English 
were  in  force  at  Detroit,  and  could  easilv  send  a  jiarrison 
to  Yinceiines,  on  the  AYabash,  a  ])oint  intervening  between 
him  and  the  frontier  from  whence  he  had  marched.  That 
ultimate  failure  in  his  plans  could  only  l)e  :!verted  by  tlie 
most  heroic  policy,  coupled  with  extraordinary  activity,  was 
evident  to  the  mind  of  Clark,  and  he  set  himself  about  the 
execution  of  the  yet  unfinished  work  before  him  without  loss 
of  time. 

His  masterly  efibrts  to  win  the  good  will  of  the  French  had 
been  successful,  and  the  next  work  to  be  done  was  to  win  the 
favor  of  the  Indians,  whose  power  was  then  transcendent 
throughout  the  whole  interior. 

Pending  his  efforts  in  this  direction  Gibault,  the  ])riest, 
volunteered  to  go  to  Vincennes  with  others,  among  whom  was 
Captain  Helm,  to  advocate  the  American  cause  at  tliat  post. 
In  this  he  was  successful.  Tliose  who  represented  the  British 
interest  there  gave  way  to  the  all-prevailing  sentiment  in  favor 
of  the  Americans,  and  Captain  Helm  became  commandant  of 
the  place. 


4"i  CI.AKK's    CONliUEST    OF    ILLINOIS. 

Sucli  Wiis  the  state  of  uffiiirs  in  the  Jiutuiiin  ot"  177S,  hut 
on  the  15th  of  December  Henry  Ilaniiltoii,  the  Briti.sli  gov- 
ernor of  Detroit,  suddenly  ajjpeared  l)efore  Vinceniie.s  with 
a  force  of  30  British  reguhirs,  50  French  volunteers  from 
among  tlie  citizens  of  Detroit,  and  400  Indians.  Helm  had 
no  force  in  commantl  to  oppose  them,  and  on  came  the 
invaders,  with  Colonel  Hamilton  at  their  head,  and  at  his 
post  stood  Captain  Helm,  match  in  hand,  ready  to  lire  a  loaded 
cannon  at  them.  When  thev  had  arrived  within  hailiiiij  (lis- 
tance.  the  tenacious  defender  of  the  fort  slumted  '•  H;dt!" 
This  brought  a  reply  from  Hamilton  demanding  a  surrender. 
Helm  in  turn  demanded  the  honors  of  war,  which  terms 
were  granted,  and  Hamilton  took  possession  of  the  place, 
its  garrison  consisting  of  Captain  Helm  and  one  soldier, 
named    Henry.* 

The  situation  of  Clark  was  now  perilous  in  the  extreme,  l)ut 
he  took  prompt  measures  to  meet  the  emergency.  On  the 
2'i»th  of  January  succeeding,  which  was  in  1779,  there  arrived 
at  his  (piarters  from  Vincennes  Francis  Vigo,  a  Spanisli  mer- 
chant. He  had  important  news  for  General  Clark — Hamilton 
had  weakened  his  force  by  sending  his  Indians  to  blockade  the 
Ohio  river,  in  order  to  cut  off  the  retreat  of  the  Americans. 
"  H"  T  don't  take  Hamilton,  Hamilton  will  take  me,"  ex- 
claimed Clark.  His  i-esolntion  was  immediately  made,  and  he 
determined  to  march  against  Vincennes.  A  company  of 
French  volunteers  was  raised,  which,  added  to  a  company  of 
his  own,  constituted  a  force  of  170  men.  These  were  to 
march  overland  t(j  the  ])lace,  while  a  vessel  commanded  by 
John  Rogers,  witli  4<)  men,  was  sent  down  tiie  Mississippi  and 
up  the  Ohio  and  Wabasli,  to  transport  the  necessary  stores  and 
cooperate  with  the  land  lorces.  The  vessel  started  on  the  lOth 
of  February,  and  the  land  forces  the  next  day,  2 10  men  all 
told,  to  wrest  from  the  British  empire  a  country  large  enough 
for  a  kingdom. 

*Butler's  Kcntuckv. 


Clark's  conquest  of  Illinois.  43 

Whei!  General  Clark  arrived  at  the  Wabash,  its  waters  were 
so  swollen  hy  late  rains  that  the  country  tor  many  miles 
urouiid  was  inundated,  and  after  crossing  the  turbulent  river 
tlu-  invaders  had  to  wade  in  water  up  to  their  arm-pits,  in 
places,  before  camping  ground  could  be  reached.  This  they 
(lid  under  the  inspiration  of  a  war  song,  in  which  the  ^"hole 
line  joined,  as  they  struggled  through  the  flooded  valleys  like 
amphibious  beings.  Having  passed  these  watery  wastes,  the 
men  encamped  for  the  night  on  a  rise  of  ground,  half  famished 
with  hunger  and  chilled  to  their  vitals  with  their  cold  water 
wadings.  Fortunately  a  small  supply  of  food  was  soon  ob- 
tained from  some  Indian  hunters,  and  the  next  day  the  whole 
force  marched  against  Fort  Sackville,  which  defended  the  town. 
The  attack  was  made,  and  twenty-four  hours'  firing  resulted  in 
wounding  many  of  Hamilton's  soldiers,  and  he  surrendered  at 
discretion  on  the  24th  of  February. 

In  vain  may  the  records  of  warfare  be  searched  to  find  so 
important  a  conquest  achieved  by  so  small  a  force.  The  whole 
plan  from  the  first  looked  like  a  desperate  one,  and  had  Ham- 
ilton not  felt  an  assurance  that  he  could  circumvent  it,  he 
would  not  have  weakened  his  own  force  by  sending  a  detach- 
ment to  the  Ohio  to  cut  olf  Clark  on  a  retreat  that  he  (Ham- 
ilton) felt  certain  would  be  attempted  by  the  "rash  adven- 
turer," as  he  regarded  him. 

Clark's  success  was  the  result  of  an  accumulation  of  circum- 
stances, some  of  which  fortuitously  grew  out  of  its  apparent 
impossibility  in  the  estimation  of  his  antagonist,  as  well  as  out 
of  the  hardihood  of  his  men,  but,  more  than  either  of  these, 
out  of  his  own  versatility  of  talent  to  turn  even  obstacles  in 
his  patli  to  ultimate  advantage.  But  this  conquest,  marvelous 
as  it  appeared,  was  only  one  step  towards  the  final  destiny  of 
Illinois,  as  well  as  the  whole  territory  north  of  the  Ohio  river. 

At  the  negotiations  in  Paris  in  1783,  which  arranged  the 
terms  of  peace  after  the  American  Revolution,  the  most  im- 
portant point  to  agree  on  was  to  establish  a  western  boundary 


44  UIPLOMAC'V    AT    PARIS. 

for  the  new  iiutioii.  The  provisions  of  tlu'  Quebec  hill  of 
1774  had  made  the  Ohio  river  tlie  southern  line  ut"  (/Mnjuhi, 
and  the  British  tenaciously  held  to  this  claim.  Meantime  the 
Count  de  Araiuhi,  the  Spanish  Commissioner,  claimed  all  the 
territory  west  of  the  Alleghany  mountains.  At  this  iuncture 
the  American  Ministers,  Jay,  Adams,  Franklin  and  Laurens 
discovered  that  the  French  Commissioner,  Count  A'^ergennes, 
was  secretly  using  his  influence  in  favor  ot"  the  Spanish  chiim. 
This  served  to  complicate  the  issue  still  more,  and  helped  to 
weaken  the  resolution  of  the  British  Commissioner  to  insist 
on  the  rights  of  Kuij^land  in  an  issue  which  might  prolong  a 
controversy  with  her  Eur<jpean  rivals;  for  had  the  signing  of 
the  treaty  hung  on  the  pleasure  of  Spain  till  lier  consent  was 
obtained  to  making  the  Mississippi  the  western  Itoundary  of 
the  I'nited  States,  it  would  never  have  been  signed,  and  it  is 
highly  probable  that  England  would  not  have  conceded  this 
point  if  the  Spanish  claim  liad  not  presented  obstacles  in  the 
way  of  her  retaining  the  territory  in  dispute,  even  if  the 
Americans  should  relinquish  it.  This  consideration,  in  ad- 
dition to  the  American  rights  by  virtue  of  Clark's  conquest, 
settled  the  destiny  of  Illinois  ]»y  placing  her  under  the  flag 
of  the  United  States  at  the  treaty  of  Paris,  signed  September 
3d,  1783,  and  ratified  by  Congress  at  Philadelphia.  January 
1-ith,  1784. 

From  the  first  the  Americans  had  shown  a  firm  purpose  to 
retain  the  Illinois  country,  :ind,  in  accordance  with  this  reso- 
lution, the  General  Assembly  of  Virginia,  in  October,  1778, 
made  provision  for  the  forms  of  a  temporary  govern- 
ment there,  and  the  following  year,  on  the  loth  of  June, 
John  Todd,  a  Coh)nel  under  Clark,  by  authority  of  these  pro- 
visions, issued  a  proclanuitioii  at  Kaskaskia,  organizing  the 
coxintrv  into  a  countv  of  Virginia,  to  be  called  Illinois  Countv, 
and  a  fort  was  built  the  same  year  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
Mississippi  river,  just  below  the  mouth  of  the  Ohio,  to  defend 
the  country  from  the  Spaniards.     At  that   time  Spain  owned 


SPAMlSll     KIVALIJV.  45 

lialf  <'f"  South  America,  Centnil  America,  Mexico,  tiie  Wt-st 
Indies,  Florida,  and  all  the  territory  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river  to  the  Pacilic  ocean.  She  was  the  Euro])eaii  ])ower 
ahove  all  others  that  represented  the  inteiisitied  tbrnis  o!" 
feudalism  and  tyranny,  bold,  defiant  and  aifi^ressive  in  her 
state  councils,  and  intolerant  in  civil  and  reli<;i()us  rijj^iits.  The 
fires  of  despotism  M-ere  consumin<j^  her  vitals,  and  soiui  hurnt 
out  the  materials  wherewith  to  sustain  her  do^god  -md  un- 
comj)romising  determination  to  crush  the  numhood  out  of  her 
colonial  subjects.  The  consequence  was  that  her  power  went 
rapidly  into  decline  when  the  portions  of  America  over  which 
her  laws  extended  were  brought  into  proximity  and  rivalry 
with  the  progressive  spirit  of  young  America,  as  the  sequel 
proved.  To  record  the  history  of  her  attempts  to  extend  her 
dominion  over  the  Mississip})i  valley  would  iill  a  volume.  All 
of  them  were  abortive,  for  the  reason  tliat  her  government  was 
behind  the  age  of  the  progressive  civilization  that  had  been 
ii'rowiui;  into  maturity  under  liberal  Euijlish  law  in  America. 
This  law,  when  extended  over  the  French  settlements,  was 
hailed  with  welcome,  for  the  re;ison  that  it  deprived  them  of 
no  natural  right,  and  most  of  the  iiduibitants  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  to  the  State  of  Virginia  under  Todd's  administra- 
tion. He  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Jilue  Licks,  in  Kentucky, 
August  isth.  iTSi!,  and  was  succeeded  by  Timothy  Montbrun, 
a  Frenchnum. 

From  this  period  till  tlie  occupation  of  the  country  by  St. 
Clair,  no  official  records  are  extant  of  its  government,  and  the 
inference  is  that  during  this  hiatus  no  difficulties  arose  that 
could  not  be  settled  by  the  priest.  Tt  was  during  this  interim 
that  the  lirst  American  settlement  in  Illinois  was  made.  It 
was  located  in  tl.'e  present  county  of  Monroe,  and  signifi- 
cantly named  *' Is  ew  Design.'  The  names  of  these  settlers 
were  James  Moore,  Shadrack  Bond,  James  Garrison,  Robert 
Kidd.  and  Larken  Kutherford.  The  two  latter  were  soMiers 
in  Geiieral  Clark's  army.     In   the   summer  of  1781  all  these, 


46  FIKsr    AMKUICAN    SKTTLEMKNT. 

with  tlieir  families,  liad  crossed  the  Alle<;haiiy  mountains  and 
embarked  from  PittR])uri,'  on  board  of  what  was  then  caUed  an 
ark.  When  the  mouth  of  the(Jlii<)  was  reached,  with  many  a 
heavy  strain,  they  urged  their  ark  up  the  current  of  the  J\[is- 
sissippi  to  the  shore  (»})posite  tliis  settlement,  (h'barked,  and  set 
the  first  permanent  Anglo-American  stakes  into  the  soil  of 
Illinois. 

These  men  were  composed  o\'  a  inore  inflexible  material 
than  the  French.  There  was  no  sympathy  between  them  and 
the  Indians,  and  the  consequence  was  tliat  a  hostile  feeling 
ultimately  grew  up  between  each  which  in  time  made  it  neces- 
sary to  build  a  Mock-house  as  a  refuge  in  the  event  of  an  out- 
break. 

By  virtue  of  her  royal  charter,  as  already  stated,  the  claim 
of  Virginia  to  all  the  lauds  north  of  the  Ohio  river  was  ac- 
knowledged by  common  consent,  and  was  valid,  perhaps  in 
default  of  its  never  having  been  disputed  by  ;i  high  legal 
court.  But  the  magnanimity  of  this  venerable  old  State  made 
any  such  action  uiniecessary  by  ceding  the  territory  in  (ques- 
tion to  the  United  States,  the  deed  of  cession  bearing  date 
March  1st,  1784. 

This  broad  creation  of  prairie  and  forest,  seamed  by  a 
thousand  rivers  and  enriched  by  countless  autumnal  leaf-falls 
and  prairie  growths,  was  then,  comparatively  speaking,  an  im- 
nnvculate  tablet,  iinscarred  by  the  plow,  and  steps  were  ])romptly 
taken  by  Congress  to  facilitate  its  settlement  and  guarantee  to 
each  settler  such  lands  as  he  selected  and  ])aid  for.  Accord- 
ingly on  the  20th  of  May.  1 785.  an  act  was  passed  for  the 
survey  of  such  lands  as  had  been  pMirchased  from  the  Indians. 
And  now  beijan  that  svsteni  of  public  surveys  which  may 
justly  be  called  the  best  in  the  world  It  was  begun  under 
charge  of  Thomas  Iluchins,  the  same  who  ma])ped  out  the 
Ohio  country  bv  observation  durin^  a  tour  through  it  soon 
after  Bouquet's  expediiion  to  the  Muskingum.     These  surveys 


TKkHITOIilAI,    (iOVKUNMKNT    <  >K(rANIZKI>.  4c7 

now  fonii  the  basis  tor   a  description  of  «-verv  Wmn.  ami   even 
cverv  viilii«re  lot.  in  the  entire  iioi-tliwest. 

On  rlie  5tli  of  Octohtr.  ITsT,  Artliui-  St.  Clair,  a  venerable 
Kevolntionarv  ofHeer,  ua>  a]ij)ointe(l  "governor  of  the  entire 
ettuntry  north  of  the  ()liio  river,  which  was  desi<''Mate(l  as  the 
Northwest  Territorv.  On  the  !»th  of  .inly  the  next  year  he 
arrived  at  Marietta,  a  settlement  recently  made  at  the  mouth 
of  the  ^luskinguni  river,  and  set  the  new  machinery  of  gov- 
ernment in  motion.  The  fir>t  comity  was  lai<l  out  with 
dimensions  large  enough  to  include  all  the  settlements  on  the 
river,  and  named  Washington  county.  About  the  first  of 
June,  17'.*0,  the  governor,  with  the  judges  t>f  the  ftU])erior 
court,  descended  the  Ohio  river  to  Cincinnati,  and  laid  out 
Hamilton  county.  A  few  weeks  later  lie,  with  Winthrop 
Sargeant.  secretary  of  the  territory',  proceeded  to  Kaskaskia 
and  organized  the  settled  portions  of  the  Illinois  country  into 
one  county,  which,  in  honor  of  the  governor,  was  named  St. 
Clair  county.  All  former  official  organizations  here  had  been 
by  authority  of  the  State  of  Virginia,  and  had  been  transient 
in  their  character,  but  now  the  })ernianency  of  national  author- 
ity had  stamped  its  seal  on  Illinois  soil.  A  court  was  estab- 
lished at  Cahokia,  and  justices  of  the  peace  appointed  for 
each  of  the  adjacent  villages. 

Ill  17!)5  settlements  liad  increased  so  as  te  make  the  organi- 
zation of  another  county  necessary,  and  Itaiidoli»h  county  was 
laid  out,  occupying  all  the  territory  south  of  an  east  and  west 
line  drawn  through  the  Xew  Design  settlement  from  the  Mis- 
sissippi to  the  Wabash  river,  St.  Clair  county  occupying  the 
territory  north  of  this  line,  and  Iiandol]»h   that  south  of  it. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  May  7th,  ISOO,  the  Northwest  Ter- 
ritory was  divided,  the  present  limits  of  the  State  of  Indiana, 
together  with  those  of  Michigan,  Wisconsin  and  Illinois  being 
set  off  and  named  Indiana  Territory.  On  the  13th  of  the 
same  month  William  Henry  Harrison  was  appointed  governor, 
and   John  Gibson,  the  same  to  whotn  Logan  made  his  cele- 


48  ILLINOIS    A    I'AKT    <»K    INDIANA    TKKKITDRV. 

hnited  speech,  was  jippoiiited  secretary.  The  seat  of  govern - 
iiu'iit  was  fixed  at  Vinceniies,  at  which  phice  Harrison  arrived 
Jaiiuarv  10th,  lS(>l,:ind  iiiiiued lately  organized  the  new  ^ov- 
eriiinciit. 

On  the  ;5d  nt'  .lanuarv,  hSU;"),  an  election  was  iield  \>y  order 
of  Governor  Harrison,  to  elect  representatives  for  the  assem- 
bly at  Yincennes.  The  legislature  met  July  20th,  1805. 
Shadrack  liond  and  William  Ri^gs-  were  cliosen  to  represent 
St.  Chor  county,  and  George  Fisher,  Randolph  county. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  approved  January  11th,  1805,  Indi- 
ana Territory  was  divided;  all  that  portion  of  it  lying  north  of 
a  line  due  east  from  the  southern  extremitv  of  Lake  Michiiran 
heing  set  off  and  named  Michigan  Territory.  This  only  took 
from  Tlie  Indiana  Territory  the  portion  of  Michigan  ])etween 
Lakes  Huron  and  ^lichigan,  that  portion  of  tlie  present  State 
of  Michigan  bordering  on  Lake  Su))erior  having  been  annexed 
to  the  state  since  that  period,  to  oftset  for  the  loss  of  territory 
claimed  by  Ohio  on  her  southern  honler.  On  February  3d, 
1809,  Indiana  Territory  was  again  divided  hy  setting  oft'  the 
territory-  of  Illinois,  embracing  its  present  limits,  together 
with  the  present  limits  of  "Wisconsin  and  the  peninsular  por- 
tion of  jMichigan.  Ninian  Edwards  was  ap])ointed  governor, 
liis  commission  bearing  date  April  Sith,  1800.  Nathaniel 
Popo  was  ap])r)inted  secretary.  The  seat  (jf  government  was 
fixed  at  Kaskaskia,  at  which  place  Governor  Edwards  assumed 
his  official  duties  on  the  11th  of  the  following  June. 

The  nuichinery  of  the  first  grade  of  government  was  now 
piit  in  practice.  By  it  the  govrnor  and  judges  constituted  the 
legislature. 

By  an  act  of  Congress  May  21st,  1812,  the  territor}'  of 
Illinois  was  promoted  to  the  second  grade  of  government.  Up 
to  this  time  every  county  and  town  officer  had  been  appointed 
by  the  governor;  now  they  were  to  l)e  elected  by  the  people, 
l)ut  the  right  of  suffrage  was  extended  to  those  only  who  had 
paid  a  territoi'ial  tax. 


KAUTIlgUAKE    uK    1811.  49 

Three  new  counties.  Madison,  Gallatin  and  Johnson,  were 
oi'^anized,  inuking  five  in  all,  and  an  election  was  (trdered  in 
each  to  elect  five  meinlHirs  of  tlie  le«ijislative  council,  sev^'ii 
representatives,  an»l  one  dele^^ate  to  Congress.  Shadraek 
Bond  was  elected  totlm  latter  (ttiice,  being  the  first  one  elected 
by  tiie  j)eoj)le  tor  that  [losition. 

The  great  earth(piake  ot'18ll,t]ie  centre  ot'  which  was  at 
New  Madrid,  on  the  Mississippi  l)elow  the  mouth  ot"  the  Ohio 
river,  was  severely  felt  in  Soutlieni  Illinois.  It  began  on  the 
niijht  of  the  loth  of  December,  and  a  succession  of  shocks 
were  felt  for  several  days  succeeding.  The  ground  opened  at 
many  places  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Madrid  and  emitted 
sul{)hurous  steam,  closing  again  with  a  loud  noise,  and  tlirow- 
iiig  jets  of  mud  and  water  high  into  the  air.  Near  this  place 
much  ground  was  sunk,  and  became  j)ermanently  covi-red  with 
water.  The  shocks  were  felt  along  the  entire  valley  of  the 
Oliiu  river,  and  up  the  Mississippi  river  they  were  reported  at 
iSt.  Louis,  which  was  as  far  as  settlements  then  extended. 


50  UAITLE    uK    TIITECAMUK. 


CHAPTER  V. 


ILLINOIS  IN    THK  \VAl{  OF   1812. 

To  write  the  history  ot  all  the  scenes  of  violence  tlitit 
inarked  tlie  contest  between  the  Indians  and  the  frontiersmen 
<luring  the  pioneer  age  of  the  nortliwest  would  fill  many  vol- 
umes, but,  happily  tor  Illinois,  she  has  been  com])ar!itively 
exempt  from  In<lian  wars  as  tliey  have  raged  in  Ohio  and  In- 
diana, no  great  Indian  battle  liaving  ever  been  fought  within  her 
limits,  for  the  reason  that  the  force  and  power  of  the  Indians 
was  greatly  weakened  before  settlements  had  jtrogressed  to  any 
great  extent  in  this  territory. 

The  battle  of  Tij)j)eeanoe.  fought  ])etween  the  Shawanese 
and  otlier  tribes  against  tlie  forces  of  General  Harrison,  No- 
vember 7th,  1811,  resulted  disastrously  to  the  Indians,  and 
doubtless  prevented  a  confederation  of  the  tribes  of  Illinois 
fr(»m  coml)ining  against  the  settlers  of  this  state  l)y  any  con- 
certed movement.  Owing  to  this  cause  Indian  hostilities  here 
were  confined  to  small  skirmishes,  personal  encounters,  or  to 
Indian  scouts  on  pilfering  expeditions.  In  almost  all  thcsr 
tlie  Indians  got  the  worst  of  it.  as  the  ex])loits  of  Illinois 
pioneers  have  abundantly  shown. 

Another  reason  why  the  Indians  here  were  less  powerful  for 
mischief  and  less  aggressive  than  those  farther  east  was  owing 
to  their  greater  distance  from  Canada,  at  whicli  place  their 
"  British  P'athers,"  as  they  called  them,  had  subsidized  all  the 
tribes  north  oi'  the  Ohio  into  their  friendship  by  an  annual 
distribution  of  presents  at  Maiden. 


WAK    I>KCLAKRD.  51 

The  effect  nn  tlic  minds  of  the  Indians  of  this  jirodigal  s^en- 
erosity  was  j>rodi<;ious.  for  thry  in  their  simplicity  helieve*! 
tliat  disinterested  l)enev(iltiice  wsis  the  incentive  on  the  part 
uf  the  fivers.  In  tliis  tliey  were  mistaken,  for  there  was  a 
policy  in  it  winch  in  dne  tinii'  came  to  the  surtiu'e. 

Kven  after  the  fires  of  the  Revolntion  had  died  away  the 
Kiiiflish  left  tin-  legion  of  the  lakes  with  relnetance,  retainin^^ 
Detroit.  Sandnsky  and  other  posts  till  1  79*5,  contrary  to  treaty 
sti])ulatiojis,  givini;  as  a  reason  that  the  posts  were  held  to 
secure  the  collection  of  private  debts  dut;  from  citizens  of  the 
T^niti'd  States  to  British  subjects.  Meantime  the  persistence 
of  the  British  of  Canada  to  furni.sh  the  Indians  with  arms 
and  to  encouraj;e  them  to  resist  the  Americans  gave  "^^rea*:, 
offense  to  the  latter.  This  state  of  things  lasted  from  1789 
to  LSI  "2.  and  embittered  the  minds  of  the  border  men  against 
the  liritish  to  such  an  extent  thai,  had  their  counsels  ruled  in 
the  nation,  war  would  liave  been  declared  against  England  in 
J 793,  wdien  she  built  a  fort  at  the  Maumee  rapids,  more  than 
twenty  miles  inside  of  the  Canada  line. 

Pending  these  accumuhiting  grievances  the  French  Kevolu- 
tion  convulsed  Euro])e,  and  out  of  its  dissolution  Napoleon 
rose  into  })ower.  Between  him  and  England,  there  was  no 
peace.  As  years  rolled  on  the  war  between  France  and 
England  grew  into  immense  proportions,  and  the  latter  did  not 
hesitate  to  su])])ly  her  navy  with  seamen  from  the  decks  of 
American  vessels.  This  latter  insult  to  the  nation,  added  to 
many  others  that  preceded  it,  was  the  cause  of  the  declaration 
of  the  war  of  1812.  It  was  made  the  18th  of  dune.  The 
news  rang  through  tlie  western  forests,  carried  by  iieet-footed 
nu'S>engers,  and  the  Indians  hovered  around  the  standard  of 
their  -British  Father""  in  Canada,  thinking  the  time  had 
come  when  the  Americans  should  be  driven  from  their  soil  by 
tl'.e  aid  of  English  bayonets. 

General  Hull  was  promptly  sent  to  Detroit  with  a  force  to 
garrison  tlie  place  and  hold   it  against  the  British  in  Canada. 


5"J  KOIM'     IIKAKJJUUN     i:VAi;LATia>. 

lie  had  only  been  tliere  a  short  time  wlieii  he  found  a  pow  -- 
I'ul  and  wide-spread  Indian  cont'ederacy  arrayed  against  him, 
which  was  the  result  of"  tlie  previous  years  ot"  British  patron- 
a<^e  and  generosity.  Their  savage  retainers  held  possession 
ot*  tlie  forest  path  through  wliieh  (reueral  Hull  had  marched 
to  Detroit,  and  closed  the  door  hehind  him.  jVEeantime  the 
British,  by  means  of  tlieir  fleet  on  Lake  Krie,  could  concen- 
trate tlieir  forces  upon  liim  with  facility,  and  he  soon  found 
himself  menaced  in  front  by  a  ])owerful  foe,  while  his  rear 
bristled  with  Indian  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives. 

Fort  Dearborn  at  Chicago,  which  had  been  built  in  iso;^— J-, 
was  included  in  the  military  district  under  his  charge,  and 
duriiiiif  liis  wanin*;  fortunes  he  determined  to  send  a  messen>;er 
to  tiie  place  to  give  Captain  Ileald,  its  commander,  timely 
warning  to  save  the  garrison  by  retrejitiu^  to  Fort  Wayne  if 
tlie  place  could  not  hold  out  until  relief  could  come. 

General  Hull  h;id  in  his  camp  iit  that  time  a  friendly  Pot- 
towatomie  chief,  named  Winnemac,  and  to  him  was  the  mis- 
sion conlided.  He  was  faithful  to  his  trust,  and  on  the  I'rh 
of  August  itrrived  at  P\)rt  Dearborn  nnd  handed  his  dispatch 
to  Captain  Ileald. 

War  had  been  declared  by  the  United  States  against  Eng- 
land, Michilimacinac  had  been  taken,  and  Detroit  was  hai'd 
pressed  l)y  the  British  and  their  red  allies.  This  was  the  bur- 
den of  news  which  the  messenger  brought  to  this  far-oft"  post 
in  their  isolated  hermitage.  Farther,  Captain  Ileald  was  oi-- 
dered  to  evacuate  Fort  Dearborn  provided  he  had  not  means 
to  defend  it.  Under  an  impression  that  he  had  not  he  ordered 
an  evacuation,  though  against  the  advice  of  his  subordinate 
othcers. 

The  15th  of  August  was  set  for  the  day,  and  the  garrison, 
mustering  (^6  men,  started  on  their  route  for  Fort  Wayne.  <  )i\ 
arriving  at  the  locality  where  Eighteenth  street  now  tern  iiuites 
at  the  lake,  they  were  attacked  by  five  times  their  nund)er  of 
Pottowatomies.     The  soldiers  in  vain  charged  upon  their  nu- 


MASSACKK    AT    ClllCACir*.  58 

merons  foes,  with  Captain  "Wells  at  their  liead.  who  had  arrived 
the  day  before  from  Fort  Wayne  to  help  defend  tlieni.  Wells 
was  killed,  and  with  him  fell  more  than  half  of  the  heroic 
hand  of  soldiers.  The  remainder,  with  Mrs.  Helm,*  the  Kin- 
zic  family, -f-  and  some  of  the  wives  of  the  officers,  became 
prisoners,  and  were  subsecpiently  ransomed  by  Mr.  Forsythe, 
the  Indian  agent  at  Peoria,  and  others. 

This  massacre  was  in  the  interest  of  the  British  in  their 
contest  with  the  Americans,  thou<rh  not  done  under  their 
orders,  l)iit  under  savage  responsibility  on  British  account. 
This  opening  of  thv  war  was  all  in  favor  of  the  British.  The 
campaign  had  been  short  and  decisive,  but  a  new  one  was  at 
hand,  destined  to  ofi^set  fourfold  for  its  disgrace. 

On  the  24th  of  Se}>tember  General  Harrison  received  a  dis- 
patch from  the  president  that  he  had  been  appointed  to  the 
command  of  the  northwest.  The  first  thing  for  him  to  do 
was  to  take  effective  measures  for  the  protection  of  the  most 
remote  frontier,  after  which  the  British  were  to  be  driven  from 
Detroit. 

General  Shelby,  oi'  Kentucky,  entered  heartily  into  the 
work,  and  had  raised  an  army  fif  volunteers  and  placed  them 
under  command  of  General  Hopkins,  who  was  at  Vin- 
cennes  late  in  September  awaiting  orders,  and  while  General 
Harrison  was  ajiproaching  Detroit,  his  forces  Avere  destined  ibr 
the  Illinois  service,  to  destroy  the  Kickauoo.  villages  along  the 
Illinois  river. 

On  the  11th  of  October  two  companies  of  United  States 
Rangers,  under  command  of  Colonel  Bussell,  were  ordered  to 
march  immediately  to  Edwardsville,  Illinois,  where  they  were 

*This  noble  woman's  life  was  spared  by  the  timely  interposition  of  Black 
l*artriclg(.'.  After  her  ransom  she  wrote  a  jrraphir  account  of  the  battle, 
whi(  h  was  published  in  Wabun,  and  transferred  from  thence  to  various 
other  histories. 

fJohn  Kinzie  was  sent  in  irons  to  Maiden,  from  which  place  while  pris- 
oner he  beheld  the  smoke  of  Perry's  victory  on  the  lake  and  the  retreat  of 
the  Little  Belt  and  her  capture.    Blanchard's  Northwest. 


5i  KXI'KDITION'    ACiAlNsT     TlIK    INDIANS. 

tu  l)e  j)laced  uiuler  coiumand  ol"  Governor  Edwards  to  he  added 
to  his  forces.  Tluis  united,  llie  army  was  to  inarch  against 
the  Indian  towns  on  the  Illinois  river,  in  whicli  vicinity  it  was 
to  form  a  junction  with  the  army  of  (ieneral  Ilo{)kiiis.  The 
latter  started  from  Vincennes  early  in  Octoher,  crossed  the 
Wabash  at  Fort  Harrison,  and  hegan  its  march  into  the  hroad 
prairies  of  the  interior  toward  the  objeetive  point.  They 
were  composed  mostly  of  raw  recruits  who  had  never  seen 
service,  and  the  country  they  had  entered  seemed  strany;e  and 
bewiklerint^  in  its  vastnes^.  The  prairie  tires  lit  up  the  sky 
each  night  with  lurid  glares  and  wrought  upon  their  fears,  and 
at  the  end  of  the  fourth  day's  march  the  whole  army  I'cfused 
to  obey  orders.  Accordingly  Uie  next  morning  the  volunteers 
turned  backwai'd  and  retraced  their  steps  by  the  way  they  had 
advanced,  des])ite  the  orders  of  their  General. 

While  these  unsoldier-like  men  were  retreating  before  they 
had  come  in  sight  of  the  enemy.  Governor  Edwards'  army 
were  advancing  according  to  the  original  plan,  and  arriving  at 
an  Indian  town  on  the  east  bank  of  Peoria  Lake,  found  it  de- 
serted exce})t  by  a  single  Indian  and  a  squaw.  The  luckless 
brave  was  shot  at  the  lirst  sight  of  him.  and  the  squaw,  after 
many  shots  having  been  tired  at  her  under  the  impression  that 
she  was  a  brave,  was  taken  captive.  Slie  was  not  wounded, 
but  i;ave  vent  to  her  feelin<TS  in  a  flood  ot'  tears,  and  was  soon 
set  at  liberty.  The  country  had  never  before  been  penetrated 
hy  Americans,  and  the  number  of  Indians  it  contained  W'as 
not  known.  No  tidings  of  General  Hopkins  were  received, 
and  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  retreat,  lest  superior  numbers 
miorht  i)e  broui^lit  airainst  them.  The  trovernor  thei'efore  re- 
turned  to  Camp  Russell  and  discharg'."!  the  volunteers. 

Peoria  at  this  time  contained  a  mixed  population  of  French 
and  Indians,  and  the  former  were  accused  by  the  Americans  of 
befriending  the  Indians  and  supplying  them  with  ammunition. 
Under  this  ap])rehension  a  gunboat  expedition  under  Cai)tain 
Craig  was  to  act  in  conjunction  with  the  land  forces  of  Governor 


I'KOKIA    liUUNKIi.  55 

KdwjirdH,  and  General  Hopkins,  to  supply  the  two  armies 
with  provisions  and  the  necessary  stores  lor  the  canipui<fii. 
This  tailed  to  make  a  connection  with  the  arinv  of  tlie  cfov- 
ernor,  hut  advanced  to  Peoria,  burnt  the  town,  and  taking  most 
of  the  French  inhabitants  prisoners,  transported  then]  down  the 
Illinois  river  to  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi,  and  turned  them 
loose  on  its  desolate  banks  without  food.  After  much  suffer- 
ing the  outcasts  found  their  way  back  to  their  homes,  which, 
though  laid  in  ashes,  were  rebuilt,  and  Peoria  continued  to  be 
a  French  trading  post  till  American  settlers  came  to  the  place. 
The  writer  has  no  data  at  hand  to  show  the  grounds  of  suspi- 
cion of  French  alliance  with  the  Indians,  or  the  kind  of  aid 
furnished  them  by  which  the  Americans  felt  aggrieved,  and 
by  which  they  justified  their  attack  upon  the  town  and  abduc- 
tion of  its  French  citizens.  Whatever  these  grounds  were,  it 
is  certain  that  no  subsequent  attack  was  made  on  the  place, 
by  which  an  inference  may  be  made  that  the  first  one  was  un- 
necessary. 

The  next  year,  1813,  another  expedition  was  set  on  foot 
from  Camp  Russell.  It  crossed  the  Illinois  two  miles  above  its 
mouth,  thence  went  to  the  Mississip])i,  and  marched  up  its 
east  bank  to  the  lower  rapids,  from  whence  it  went  across  the 
country  to  the  Illinois  river,  and  arriving  at  Peoria,  built  a 
fort,  which,  in  honor  of  General  George  Rogers  Clark,  was 
called  Fort  Clark.  The  expedition  then  advanced  up  the  river 
to  Gomas  village,  destroyed  it,  and  returned  to  Camp  Rus- 
sell. This  closed  the  campaign  of  1813  in  Illinois,  and  it 
must  be  confessed  that  it  was  by  a  very  tenacious  and  far- 
fetched resolution  to  defend  the  state  that  the  war  had  been 
wa<Ted  against  the  Indians,  and  especially  against  the  French 
of  Peoria. 

Tlie  campaign  of  1814  opened  with  increased  activity  along 
the  frontiers  of  Illinois,  for  now  an  actual  enemy  was  at  their 
gates.  Notwithstanding  the  British  had  been  driven  from 
Detroit   and  signally  defeated  both   on   sea  and  land   by  the 


66  I'KAIKIE    Dr    CHIKN    TAKKN. 

forces  of  (reneral  Harrison  and  Commodore  Perry,  jMicliili- 
inaciiiac  and  Prairie  dn  C'hien  were  still  in  their  possession, 
and  aii^ainst  the  latter  an  expedition  was  jdaTined.  It  started 
from  St.  Louis  ahout  the  1st  of  ^lay  in  four  barges,  on  Ijoard 
of  which  were  200  men  under  charge  of  Governor  Clark,  of 
Missouri.  They  arrived  at  the  })lace  and  took  ])ossessioii  with- 
oxit  resistance,  almost  the  entire  British  force,  under  the 
celebrated  Colonel  Dickson,  having  left  for  Canada  to  recruit 
the  British  army  there,  who  were  being  hard  pressed  by  the 
Americans. 

The  following  July  a  large  force  of  British  and  Indians  re- 
turned and  laid  siege  to  the  place.  It  was  taken  after  a  stout 
resistance,  and  the  garrison  were  sent  to  St.  Louis  as  paroled 
prisoners. 

The  following  August  an  expedition  was  litted  out  at  Ca])e 
an  Gris,  destined  for  the  upper  Mississippi,  under  command  of 
General  Z.  Taylor,  the  same  who  afterwards  became  T^resident 
of  the  I^nited  States. 

It  s'li  ted  on  the  24th  of  August,  in  armed  barges,  with 
334  men.  A  little  above  Rock  Island  thev  were  attacked  by 
a  superior  force  of  British  and  Indians  under  the  command  of 
the  celebrated  Black  Hawk.*  and  defeated  after  a  des])erate 
baffle. 

Tliis  terminated  the  war  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin,  as  the 
negotiations  of  Ghent  soon  followed,  articles  of  peace  being 
signed  December  24th,  1814,  and  the  British  forces  withdrew 
from  the  beautiful  lake  country  to  its  northern  shore,  and  the 
Indians  once  more  settled  into  peace. 

*This  must  have  been  soon  after  Black  Hawk's  return  from  the  army  of 
Geinral  Proccor.    See  Black  Hawk's  narration  in  Smith's  Doc.  Hist,  of  Wis. 


ILLINOIS    A    STATE.  57 


CHAPTER    VI. 


ADMINISTRATIONS  OF  THE  OOVEKNOKS  OF  ILLINOIS. 

In  .lanuarv,  iJSls.  the  territoriul  lei^islature  sent  a  petition 
to  Congress  tor  admission  int<j  tlie  Union  as  an  independent 
state.  Xathaiuel  Pope  was  then  delegate,  and  tlirongh  his 
instrumentality  the  petition  was  not  only  granted,  l)ut  the  hill 
was  so  amended  as  to  extend  the  northern  limits  ut*  the  state 
from  its  proposed  houndary  to  latitude  4-:^°  3t»'.  Its  first 
limit  was  a  line  drawn  due  west  from  the  southern  extremity 
of  Lake  ^lichigan  to  the  Mississippi  river.  The  amended  hill 
hecame  a  law  A])ril  1  Sth.  hut  the  act  for  admission  of  the 
state  into  the  Union  was  not  ]>assed  till  Deeemher  .30th.  1818.* 

In  July,  1818,  a  convention  Avas  called  atlvaskaskia  to  draft 
a  constituti«^)n,  of  which  Jesse  B.  Thomas  was  president  and 
William  C.  Greenup  secretary.  The  following  are  the  names 
of  the  counties  then  in  existence,  all  of  which  were  repre- 
sented in  the  convention  :  Randolph,  Madison.  Gallatin,  John- 
son, Pope,  Jackson,  Crawford,  Bond.  Union,  Washington  and 
Franklin. 

This  constitution  was  not  submitted  to  a  vote  of  the  peoiile 
for  ratification.  By  its  provisions  judges,  ])rosecuting  attor- 
neys, county  and  circuit  judges,  recorders  and  justices  of  the 
peace,  were  all  ap]»ointed  hy  the  governor  or  legislature,  in- 
stead of  heing  elected  hy  the  peo})le.  The  first  election  under 
it  for  governor  was  lield  in  Septemher,  1818.  M'liich  resulted 
in    tlie   election   of  Shadrack    BotuI.   and   Pierre   Menard   was 

"Ford's  History  of  Illinois   gives   in   full  tlic  reasons  for  extendiui,'  the 
northern  boundary.  , 


58  VAM)ALIA    TllK    CAIMTAI,. 

elected    lieuteniuit  jroveruor.        Tlu'V  were    iiiauj^urjitrd   (  h'to- 

luM-  r.tli. 

In  1820  the  seat  of  goviTiiiueiit  was  roiiioved  to  Vjiiidaliu. 
Aiuoiiir  its  earliest  labors  was  the  creation  of  the  Illinois  state 
hank,  M'ith  a  cajiitid  <>f  lialf  a  million  dollars,  hasc'd  on  the 
credit  of  the  state. 

Tn  Angust,  ISiti,  Edwanl  Coles  was  elected  governor  l»_v  a 
small  jilnrality  over  liis  principal  opponent,  Joseph  J^hillips, 
there  hoing  tM-o  other  candidates  in  the  field.  Adolphus  F. 
Hul)hard  was  elected  lieutenant  governor.  The  inauguration 
took  place  December  oth.  In  this  election  the  final  contest 
was  involved  between  those  who  wished  to  mak(>  Illinois  a 
slave  state  and  those  who  wished  to  make  it  a  i'reii  state,  and 
on  this  issue  the  people  Avere  not  very  une<^ually  divided. 

Slavery  ha<l  existed  here  ever  since  1720,  at  which  time 
Philip  Francis  Kenault,  as  agent  for  the  company  of  St.  Phil- 
li])s.  introduced  it.  The  company  of  which  he  was  agent  was 
an  offshoot  of  that  established  by  the  celebrated  John  Law  in 
1717.  l'>y  the  distempered  imaginations  of  those  interested 
in  the  Law  company,  the  whole  country  was  looked  upon  as  a 
mining  field  for  ])recious  metals,  and  to  work  the  mines  500 
slaves  were  purchased  in  St.  Domingo  and  transporti'd  to  the 
Illinois  country.  Afrer  this  theory  had  beeii  dis]>elle(l,  a  jtart 
of  them  were  employed  in  working  the  lead  mines  of  ^lissouri 
ami  Dnbu(pie,  while  a  portion  of  them  were  purchased  by  the 
French  settlers,  and  the  offspring  (jf  the  latter  became  the 
slave  po[>ulation  of  Illinois  down  to  the  time  of  Governor 
Coles' election.  By  the  ordinance  of  1787  slaverv  had  been 
])rohil)ited  in  the  entire  territory  of  the  northwest,  of  which 
Illinois  was  a  part,  and  it  existed  here  only  by  meatis  of 
various  legal  subterfuges  by  which  the  ])rovisions  of  the 
ordinance  had  been  averted. 

Governor  Coles  was  a;:  able  and  uncompromising  advocate 
of  Freedom,  and  it  Avas  evident  to  those  rej)resenting  the  other 
side  that  unless   a  new  constitution   which    fully   recognized 


ANTI-SLAVKKV    STliUGUhK.  .""iH 

slavery  as  llie  future  jtolicy  of  the  state  couUI  be  obtHinetl.  that 
this  institution  uiusl  ultiniatelv  die  out.  Aeeordiiii'lv  iiieas- 
ures  were  taken  hv  tlie  slavery  partv  to  obtain  it.     To  this  end 

t.  tit- 

it  was  neces.sary  by  law  to  get  a  two-thirds  \-ote  of  the  gen- 
eral assembly  in  favor  of  ealling  an  election  of  the  ])eo])le  to 
vote  ou  the  ij^nestiou  of  changing  the  constitution.  This  was 
obtained  by  dint  t)f  aggressive  aiul  defiant  means  best  known 
to  those  who  have  been  drilled  in  a  school  of  partisan  politics, 
and  now  tlie  slavery  j)arty  were  coulident  of  success.  The 
electi(»n  was  proclaimed,  but  eigliteen  montlis  intervened  be- 
fore it  was  to  be  held,  and  it  is  ])robable  that  no  state  election 
was  ever  held  since  the  United  States  became  a  nation  in 
whicli  so  much  determination  of  pur])ose  was  thrown  into  the 
arena.  The  cause  of  P'reedom  triumphed,  6,040  votes  being 
polled  against  a  convention  to  change  the  constitution  against 
•i.l»T2  in  favor  of  it. 

This  was  the  Waterloo  of  tlie  slavery  advocates  in  Illinois, 
and  to  Governor  Coles  more  than  to  any  other  man  is  due  the 
credit  of  the  victory.* 

In  the  spi'ing  of  1825.  by  invitation  of  Governor  Coles, 
General  ]-,a  Fayette,  who  was  then  in  Americti,  visited  Illinois. 
The  governor  had  previously  made  the  acquaintance  of  La 
Fayette  in  Paris,  and  the  meeting  of  these  distinguished 
statesmen  in  this  distant  frontier,  as  Illinois  then  was,  made 
the  fires  oi'  freedom  burn  anew,  and  was  a  season  of  rejoicing 
to  the  French  as  well  as  the  Americans. 

In  the  autumn  election  of  1S2(!  Ninian  Edwards  was  elected 
governor  and  Wm.  Kinney  lieuteiumt  governor  of  Illinois,  and 
were  inaugurated  Pecember  <Uh.  No  exciting  questions  came 
up  under  his  administration,  and  the  governor  turned  his 
attention  to  improving  the  linances  of  the  state.  In  tliis  he 
was  successful,  the  annual  expenses  of  the  state  being  $20,000, 
and  the  revenue  $35,000 — small  sums  compared  to  its  present 
outgoes  and  incomes. 

*8ee  E.  B.  Washburue's  Life  of  Governor  Coles. 


60  TIJE    SALK    WAR. 

In  August,  1830,  John  Keynolds  was  elected  governor  and 
Zadoc  Casey  lieutenant  governor,  and  were  inaugurated  Hc- 
cemher  9th.  The  great  event  of  his  administration  was  the 
Sauk  war.  The  8aul<s  and  Foxes  tlu-n  occupied  the  territory 
intervening  between  the  Rock  and  Mississippi  rivers.  I>y  a 
treaty  held  in  St.  Louis  Novendtei-  ;id,  l.S(i4,  this  tribe  had 
ceded  nearly  all  the  lands  they  held  in  Illinois  and  Wisconsin 
to  the  United  States,  General  Harrison  re])resenting  tht^  I'ni ted 
States,  and  five  chiefs  representing  the  Sauk  and  Fox  and  Winne- 
bago nations  in  the  treaty  By  its  provisions  the  Indians  were 
to  retain  their  lands  till  they  were  wan  ted  for  settlements.  I)ur- 
ing  the  war  of  1S12  with  England,  through  the  influence  of 
Colonel  Dickson,  a  British  officer  at  Prairie  du  Chien.  a  pai't  of 
this  tribe  had  allied  themselves  to  the  Britis  .  and  these  were 
called  "The  British  Band."  Black  Hawk  was  their  acknowl- 
edged leader,  while  Keokuk,  the  ])rin('ipal  chief  of  the  tribe, 
was  opposed  to  the  policy  of  resistance  to  the  United  States. 
Black  Hawk's  village  was  on  the  tongue  of  land  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Rock  river,  between  it  and  the  Mississippi. 

After  the  peace  at  the  close  of  the  war  of  ISI'2,  amicable  rela- 
tions existed  with  the  Indians  till  Jnlv  15th,  1830,  at  which  time 
Keokuk  made  a  final  cession  at  Prairie  du  Chien  to  the  United 
States  of  all  the  land  liis  tribe  held  east  of  the  Misssisippi  river. 

This  M'as  done  without  the  knowledge  of  Black  Hawk,  and 
wnen  this  tenacious  old  veteran  learned  the  news  his  indii;na- 
tion  was  aroused,  for  he  had  always  been  op})osed  to  yielding 
territory  to  the  whites.  By  it^s  stipulations  Black  Hawk  and 
his  band  were  to  leave  their  village  the  next  year  and  occupy 
land  west  of  the  Mississip})i.  Keokuk  used  his  influence  to 
persuade  the  whole  tribe  to  do  it,  while  Black  Hawk  took  the 
other  side.  Keokuk  with  his  band  crossed  the  river,  but 
Black  Hawk,  instead  of  quietly  submitting,  scoured  the  country 
from  Canada  to  the  Mississijipi  to  secure  aid  to  his  cause.  He 
declared  the  treaty  of  1804  to  have  been  obtained  through 
fraud,  and  determined  to  hold  his  position. 


TllK    SALK    WAK.  61 

During  the  winter  of  1830-1,  as  usual,  his  whole  tnl)e  left 
tlieir  village  on  u  hunting  exeursion.  lu  procure  furs  where- 
with to  pay  their  debts  to  the  traders  and  \ni\  new  supplies  of 
goods.  On  their  return  in  the  foll<nving  April  they  found 
their  village  in  possession  of  the  palefaces.  The  fur  trader  at 
Hock  Island,  a  former  friend  of  Black  Hawk,  had  purchased 
the  very  ground  on  wliicli  tlic  village  stood,  and  he  and  his 
associates  were  making  preparations  to  cultivate  the  a<ijacent 
corn-field  of  TOO  acres.  The  indiirnation  of  the  Indians  was 
now  aroused,  hut,  owing  to  the  temperate  counsels  of  Black 
Hawk,  a  compromise  was  made  by  which  the  field  was  divided 
between  the  new  claimants  and  the  Indians,  each  to  cultivate 
their  respective  half 

This  truce  did  not  ])revent  disputes,  and  even  trespassing  on 
each  other's  rights,  and  on  the  IStli  of  May  eight  of  the  white 
settlers  united  in  a  memorial  to  Governor  Revnolds  settiiiii: 
forth  their  grievances.  On  the  27th  he  made  a  call  for  7<»0 
volunteers  to  protect  the  settlers.  General  Gaines  then  held 
command  of  this  military  district,  and  reached  Foi't  Arm- 
strong, on  Rock  Island,  on  the  Tth  of  June.  To  the  gov- 
ernors call  l.tJOO  volunteers  had  responded,  and  were  ])roniptly 
on  the  sj)ot  ready  to  execute  the  orders  of  General  Gaines. 
AVhen  they  came  to  Black  Hawk's  village  he  yielded  to  the 
situation  and  crossed  over  to  the  west  side  with  his  tribe  on 
the  night  of  the  2-tth.  General  Gaines  took  possession  of  his 
village  on  the  26tli.  Black  Hawk  meantime,  with  his  starving 
followers,  were  encamped  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
with  a  white  fiag  fluttering  over  their  heads.  On  the  30th  a 
treaty  was  held  with  him,  and  Black  Hawk  gave  u[,  his  inten- 
tions of  holding  his  lands.  Rations  were  dealt  out  to  the 
submissive  Indians,  and  the  volunteers  were  disniisf-ed 

Early  in  April  the  following  year,  1S32,  Black  ^lawk  in  an 
evil  hour  recrossed  the  Mississippi  with  his  band  and  marched 
up  the  Rock  river,  under  pretense,  perhaps  sincere,  of  paying 
a  visit  to  his  Winnebago  friends  in  Wisconsin,  to  plant  corn 


62  THK    SATK     WAK. 

in  tlu'ir  countrv-  (Toiioral  Atkinson  tlieii  licld  coininaiKl  of 
Fort  Armstrong,  ami  sent  inessenijrrs  sifter  liiiii  to  warti  liitii 
back.  Black  Hawk  ])aifl  iio  heed  to  the  waniiiii;,  l>iit  con- 
tinned  on  liis  way  till  l)ixon'<  ferry  was  reaclie*!.  wlien>  lie 
eiicaiMpe«l. 

Pending  their  stay  at  the  place  ^Frs.  Dixon  invited  Klack 
Iliiwk  and  his  friends  to  dine  with  her,  she  herself  playing 
hostess  at  the  tahle  and  entering  freely  into  conversation  witlj 
her  tawny  gnests,  and  Black  Hawk,  as  he  a(;knowled^ed,  felt 
coni})liniented  hy  her  respectful  attentions  to  himself  and 
friends,  especially  hecause  slie  sat  at  the  tahle  and  enjoyed  the 
dinner  with  them.* 

The  news  of  Black  Hawk's  return  to  Illinois  soon  reached 
the  ears  of  (xovernor  Reynolds,  wlio  forthwith  raised  a  force 
of  1,S00  volunteers,  to  he  ])Ut  under  the  command  of  Creneral 
Whitesides,  to  follow  him.  The  army  readied  Dixon  the  12th 
of  ^fay.  Meantime  Black  Hawk  had  left  the  place  and  en- 
camped on  the  banks  of  Sycamore  creek,  a  tributary  of  the 
Rock  river  thirty  miles  above. 

Two  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  volunteers  at  Dixon,  an 
ambitions  officer  named  Stillman  begged  the  privilege  of  the 
general  in  command  of  making  a  reconnoisance  on  Black 
Hawk's  camp.  With  reluctance  it  was  granted,  and  Major 
Stillman  started  with  275  men  for  the  adventure.  Black  Hawk 
was  entertaining  his  Winnebago  friends  at  a  dog  feast  when  the 
volunteers  approaelied  liis  cam]>,  and  he  sent  a  party  of  six 
men  to  meet  them  under  protection  of  a  white  tiag.  By  some 
misdirection  this  party  was  flred  on  by  the  undisci})lined  vol- 
unteers and  two  of  them  killed  while  in  retreat.f  Pending  this 
melee  the  forces  of  Stillman  were  scattered  beyond  the  control 
of  their  commander  while  giving  chase  to  the  flying  truce- 
bearers,  and    Black   Hawk,  justly  indignant   at  the  trejitment 

*For  this  incident  tlie  writer  is  indebted  to  u  dau^^hter  of  Mr.    and  Mrs. 
Dixon,  who  now  survives  her  worthy  parents  at  the  place. 

f  Reynolds'  Illinois. 


riii;    ^.\l  K    w  Ai;.  i*'^ 

tlu'V  liiul  nc'civrd,  nii>L'(l  tlir  \var-\vliouj»  aii<l  n'|»ell«'«l  tlu' 
iitrack  with  liis  accnstoiiifd  >|iirit.  Tln'  voliuitft'iN  wn-c  in  iki 
ctni<liti<»ii  til  cvt'ii  act  t>ii  tlir  il»'t"i'iisi\«-.  and  t1f<l  in  cnnt'iisittn 
hc'torr  liiiii,  li'avinj;  1  I  <>t"  tlu-ir  niinilttr  dt  ;nl.  Tliis  was  the 
fir>t  Iilntitj  drawn  in  the  Sauk  wai-.  'Iln-  t'ui^itivcs  reached 
I)i.\('U  the  lu'xt  duv,  stiii<;iM<j^  under  the  most  disi;racet"ii!  (let'eat 
ever  it'Cfived  hy  wldti'  men  at  tlic  hands  i>t'  Indian>.  Tliis 
iusij/iiiticaut  atitiir  nuw  lUack  Hawk  a  ci-uinl"  tif  citniturt.  hut 
it  stimulated  tlie  goverutiu-nt  t«>  prouipt  action  to  juTvent  tlie 
Wiiiuehaii^us   and  I'ottawattoinies  troiii    takiuj^  u])  tlie  hatchet. 

At  that  tiuu'  llw  nortlieru  frontier  settlcinents  of"  Tlliiiois 
harely  reached  liureau  creek,  Plainville  and  Xaperville.  The 
lead  mines  had  drawn  to  the  vicinity  ot"  Galena  settlements 
twelve  or  fifteen  Uiiles  in  extent,  and  Chicaj^o  was  then  a  \il- 
hiire  of  two  or  thn'c  hundred  iidiabitants,  sheltered  liv  the 
protection  of  Fort  Dearhorn. 

The  alarm  was  soon  carried  to  these  frontiers,  cluefly  through 
the  eft'orts  of  that  no'ole  old  Pottowatt<iniie  chief,  Shahena, 
and  l»y  his  timely  warnin<;  the  settlers  on  the  Bureau  tied  to 
the  fort  at  Ottawa,  while  those  around  Plainfield  and  Na])er- 
ville  took  refuge  at  Fort  I)ear!)orn,  hut  unhappily  at  Indian 
creek,  under  a  treacherous  sense  of  security,  a  few  families 
paid  no  heed  t(»  the  warning,  and  in  a  short  time  T"  painted 
savages  came  upon  them  aiul  butchered  15  defenseless  victims. 
Two  hoys  escaped  hy  flight,  and  two  girls,  Sylvia  aiul  Rachel 
Hall,  were  taken  captive  to  the  camp  of  Black  Hawk.  They 
were  treated  kindly,  and  soon  ransomed  through  the  influence 
of  the  AVinnehagoes. 

The  news  of  an  Indian  war  on  the  frontier  spread  rap;<lly 
through  every  liamlet  in  the  eastern  states,  aiul  measures  \\ei«' 
promptly  taken  hy  the  administration  to  meet  the  einergeiu'y. 
Nine  companies  were  sent  to  the  scene  under  command  of 
General  Scott.  He  arrived  at  Fort  Dearhorn  at  2  o'clock  on 
the  morning  of  the  8th  (»f  July.  The  cholera  had  broken  out 
among  his  men  on  the  way.  and  the  news  of  his  arrival  and  of 


()4  TIIK    ><.\l  K     WAR. 

the  feurful  contii^ioii  he  had  brought  soon  spread  tlirough  tlie 
village,  and  most  of  its  inliahitaiits  lied  t'roiii  the  plaee  het'ore 
(hiylight.* 

While  (renerai  Scott  is  detained  at  Fort  Dearborn  by  this 
tafal  duress,  let  us  follow  the  fortunes  oi'  Black  Ilawk. 

The  next  day  after  the  defeat  of  Stillinan  General  White- 
side led  liis  entire  force  to  the  scene.  There  were  the  tent 
marks  of  IJlack  Hawk's  army,  and  the  lifeless  bodies  of  11 
victims  divested  of  their  scalps,  which  were  doubtless  dangling 
frojn  the  belts  of  as  many  Sauk  warriors.  But  the  wily  Black 
Hawk  had  fled  northward,  whither  was  not  known. 

The  •2,400  men  who  had  volunteered  in  the  service  had  now 
.-eeu  enougli  Indian  tighting  to  gratity  their  curiosity,  and, 
their  term  <>f  service  having  nearly  expired,  they  were  dis- 
chai'ged  and  2.000  niore  men  recruited  to  fill  their  places. 

During  the  interim  Black  Hawk  was  busy  with  his  scoutiTig 
])arties.  chiefly  aimed  against  the  settlements  around  (xalena. 
Many  small  skii-mishes  were  fought  in  this  direction,  of  which 
the  attack  on  Apple  Kiver  fort  on  .June  0th,  where  Elizabeth 
now  stands,  was  tlie  most  notable.  The  place  was  besieged  for 
a  whole  day,  but  the  obstinate  defenders  showed  no  signs  of 
yielding,  and  Black  Hawk,  who  himself  commanded  the  attack, 
retreated.  <  )n  his  way  back  to  his  head([uarters  on  the  2Ht\\, 
at  Kellogg's  grove,  he  came  in  collision  with  a  detachment  of 
troops  under  Colonel  Dement,  numbering  150  men.  The 
veteran  chief  tried  to  draw  Dement  into  an  ambuscade,  which 
he  barely  escaped,  and  broui^ht  his  men  safelv  near  the  build- 
ings  of  Mr.  Kellogg  at  the  grove,  taking  refuge  in  them,  trom 
whence  Black  Hawk  retired  after  an  ineftectual  attempt  to  dis- 
lodge them.   A  small  number  of  men  were  killed  on  each  side. 

After  the  failure  of  the  first  campaign.  General  Whitesides 
refused  any  command  but  enlisted  in  the  ranks,  and  the  new 
forces    raised   were  divided   into  three   divisions,  to   be  com- 

*The  stampede  of  the  Chicago  villai^'ers  is  vou(  hcd  for  to  the  writer  by 
Benjamin  Hall,  wlio  married  asistcrof  Judge  Cnton. 


THE   8ALK    WAK.  65 

niiiiuled  by  General  Alexander  Posey,  General  Milton  K. 
Alexander,  and  General  James  D.  Henry,  the  whole  under 
general  couiinand  of  General  Brady.  But  the  latter  was  soon 
disabled  l)y  sickness,  and  the  chief  command  devolved  upon 
General  Atkinson. 

Seeing  this  formidable  force  arrayed  against  him.  Black 
Hawk  determined  to  retreat  to  the  north  and  save  himself  by 
crossing  the  Mississippi  river,  but  he  was  overtaken  on  the 
banks  of  the  Wisconsin,  at  Blue  Mounds,  bv  General  Henry's 
division,  and  a  battle  ensued  July  2l6t,  in  which  he  lost  50 
men  while  crossing  the  river. 

Black  Hawk  continued  his  retreat  after  the  battle  till  he 
was  again  overtaken,  August  2d,  near  the  mouth  of  Bad  Ax 
river,  in  Wisconsin.  A  liattle  followed,  in  wliich  nearly  the 
entire  remnant  of  JUack  Hawk's  army  were  killed  or  drowned 
in  attempting  to  cross  the  river.  Black  Hawk  fled  to  Prairie 
La  Cross,  a  Winnebago  village,  where  he  surrendered  himself 
to  Cliaetar  and  One-eyed  Decora,  two  Winnebago  chiefs,  who 
delivered  him  up  to  General  Street,  the  Indian  agent  at  Prai- 
rie du  Chien,  t>n  the  27th  of  August. 

As  soon  as  the  cholera  had  piirtially  subsided  among  the 
troops  of  General  Scott,  he  moved  his  quarters  from  Fort 
Dearborn  to  the  banks  of  the  Desplaines  river,  where,  after 
his  soldiers  had  sufficiently  recruited,  he  sent  the  main  body, 
under  command  of  Colonel  Cummings,  to  the  present  site  of 
Beloit,  then  a  deserted  Winnebago  village.* 

Here  instructions  came  from  tlie  general  in  chief  command 

for  the  army  to  march  down  Rock  river  to  Fort  Armstrong, 

on  Rock  Island,  to  which  place  General  Scott  with  his  staflt 

had  arrived  by  a  hasty  march   across   the  country  by  way  of 

Naperville.-j- 

*R.  N.  Murray,  who  now  lives  in  Naperville,  was  employed  as  teamster 
by  Cummings  on  the  march,  and  to  him  is  the  writer  indebted  for  the  loca-, 
tion  of  the  route  taken. 

fFor  the  route  of  General  Scott  the  writer  is  indebted  to  Louis  Elsworth, 
of  Naperville,  who  conferred  with  the  general  while  at  the  place  on  his  way. 


6ti  BLACK    HAWK    A    PRISONER. 

On  the  10th  of  September  the  Indian  prisoners  were  sent 
to  Jefferson  Barracks,  just  below  St.  Louis,  from  which  place 
Black  Hawk  was  sent  to  Washington,  arriving  there  April  3d, 
1833.  On  the  26th  he  was  sent  to  Fortress  Monroe,  where  he 
remained  till  the  -Ith  of  June,  when  he  was  returned  to  his 
people  without  further  incarceration,  for  nothing  worse  than 
honorable  warfare  could  be  charged  against  him.  On  the  way 
he  was  exhibited  as  a  sort  of  lion  in  all  the  large  cities  through 
which  he  passed,  and  the  winning  smiles  of  the  ladies  show- 
ered on  him  were  rewarded  M'ith  compliments  in  broken 
English,  amusing,  earnest,  and  sometimes  ludicrous.  But  the 
old  veteran  was  not  always  flattering  in  his  words.  He 
prophesied  that  the  white  man  would  see  the  day  that  their 
courts  of  justice  and  their  prisons  would  be  insufficient  to 
protect  the  community  against  the  criminals  that  civilization 
encouraged  and  developed.* 

On  his  return  he  was  restored  to  his  tribe  as  a  chief  sub- 
ordinate t(.>  Keokuk.  He  died  October  3d,  1835,  at  his  home 
on  the  Des  Moines  river,  Iowa,  near  the  present  village  of 
lowaville,  in  Wappelo  county.  He  was  buried  in  a  sitting 
posture,  and  a  large  mound  raised  over  his  grave,  which  still 
marks  the  resting  place  of  him  who  may  with  propriety  be 
called  the  last  native  defender  of  the  soil  of  Illinois.  These 
were  the  stirring  events  of  Governor  Reynolds'  administra- 
tion, the  like  of  which  cannot  be  rejjeated  for  want  of  ma- 
terials. 

Zadoc  Casey,  the  lieutenant  governor,  was  elected  to  con- 
gress in  1832,  and  consequently  resigned  his  position,  where- 
upon L.  D.  Ewingwas  chosen  to  fill  his  place.  In  1834  Gov- 
ernor Reynolds  vras  elected  to  congress,  which  elevated  Mr. 
Ewing  to  the  governor's  chair  to  fill  the  expiring  term,  which 
was  only  fifteen  days. 

Joseph  Duncan  was  elected  governor  in  August,  1834,  and 
inaugurated  the  succeeding  November  the  17th.     Alexander 

♦Drake. 


NEW    STATE    BANK.  67 

M.  Jenkins  was  at  the  same  time  elected  lieutenant  governor. 
Under  this  administration  a  new  state  bank  was  chartered, 
with  a  capital  of  $1,500,000.  By  an  act  of  the  legislature 
March  4th,  1837,  the  capital  stock  of  this  bank  was  increased 
$2,000,000,  which  the  state  itself  assumed,  and  also  assumed 
stock  of  the  Shawneetown  branch  of  this  bank  to  the  amount 
of  $1,000,000  more.  Tlie  object  of  this  financial  scheme  was 
to  enable  the  state  to  build  internal  improvements  for  trans- 
portation by  slack  water  navigation  of  the  AV^abash  and  Rock 
rivers,  and  also  by  means  of  railroads,  the  objects  of  which 
were  to  divert  trade  from  St.  Louis  to  Alton.  The  building 
of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  was  also  a  cherished  state 
policy.  That  these  efforts  were  premature  and  in  some  direc- 
tions impracticable  the  suspension  of  specie  payments  by  the 
banks  in  May,  1837,  proved.  The  following  July,  at  a  special 
session  of  the  legislature,  the  state  came  to  the  rescue  of  the 
banks  and  legalized  their  suspension. 

Thomas  Carlin  was  elected  governor  in  August,  1838,  and 
inaugurated  December  3d.  Stinson  II.  Anderson  was  elected 
lieutenant  governor.  The  state  was  then  casting  about  in 
every  direction  for  relief  from  the  financial  embarrassments 
which  had  lately  presented  such  a  barrier  in  her  path.  In  this 
emergency,  instead  of  retrenching  taxation  by  abandoning  a 
portion  of  the  public  works  it  had  undertaken  in  order  to 
assure  the  completion  of  at  least  a  portion  of  them,  by  which 
to  secure  an  income  to  the  state,  the  legislature  made  additional 
appro})riations,  and  extended  its  plans  fur  public  improve- 
ments into  new  channels  not  before  contemplated.  The  gov- 
ernor was  authorized  to  negotiate  a  loan  of  $4,000,000  for  the 
single  object  of  prosecuting  work  on  the  Illinois  and  Michi- 
gan canal,  which  was  the  only  successful  scheme  that  had  yet 
been  undertaken.  Up  to  the  following  January,  1839,  there 
had  been  but  $1,400,000  expended  on  the  canal.  The  onerous 
burden  of  state  indebtedness,  together  with  the  advocacy  of 
repudiation  by  a  strong  party  had  the  effect  to  almost,  if  not 


68  FAILING    OF    STATE    BANK. 

quite,  destroy  public  confidence  in  the  credit  of  the  state.  Of 
all  the  public  works  she  hud  undertaken,  the  portion  of  the 
Northern  Croiss  railroad  from  IMerodosia  to  Springfield  only 
was  finished,  it  being  put  in  operation  Xoveniber  8th,  1838 — 
the  first  in  the  state  operated  by  steam  power,  but  it  was  a 
pitiful  showing  for  the  immense  expenditures  that  had  been 
thus  far  dispensed  with  such  prodigality.  Its  revenues  could 
only  come  from  local  patronage,  barely  sufiicient  to  pay  its 
running  expenses.  After  July,  1841,  no  further  efibrts  were 
made  to  pay  interest  on  the  public  debt,*  and  early  the  next 
year  the  state  banks  broke  down  completely. -j-  The  public 
debt  then  was  $14,000,000 — a  large  t^uni  for  the  young  state 
in  its  poverty  of  both  means  and  credit,  and  its  bends  declined 
to  14  cents  on  the  dollar,  without  buyers  at  even  that  price. 

While  these  financial  questions  were  vexing  the  brains  of 
Illinois  financiers,  there  were  other  issues  growing  into  ])rom- 
inence  on  the  !:.oil  of  Illinois  destined  to  revolutionize  the 
whole  political  fabric  of  the  union.  In  the  presidential  can- 
vass of  1840  "  log  cabins  and  hard  cider  "  were  not  the  only 
things  thought  of.  James  G.  Birney,  a  citizen  of  Fulton 
county,  had  the  moral  courage  to  allow  himself  to  be  the 
presidential  candidate  for  the  anti-slavery  party.  This  was  the 
first  ofiicial  action  in  the  United  States  taken  in  this  direction, 
and  southern  Illinois  may  in  this  justly  claim  the  honor  of 
being  the  cradle  of  that  party  crowned  with  success  under 
another  of  her  sons  at  a  later  date- — Abraham  Lincoln. 

Thomas  Ford  was  elected  governor  in  August,  and  inaug- 
urated December  Btli,  1842.  John  Moore  was  elected 
lieutenant-governor.  Happily  for  the  welfare  of  the  state 
one  of  the  public  works  already  begun  had  all  the  ele- 
ments of  practical  utility  J  l;  the  most  exacting  capitalist 
could  ask.  This  was  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal.  The 
abandonment  of  all  the  others  was  a  relief  to  the  state,  while 
its  best  hopes  centered  in  the  completion  of  this.     To  do  this 

♦Davidson  and  Stuve.         •  fldem. 


^  MOEMON    TROUBLES.  69 

required  $3,000,000,  according  to  the  original  phui,  whicli  was 
to  make  it  40  feet  wide  at  the  hottom,  60  feet  wide  at  the  sur- 
face, and  of  a  de])th  sufficient  for  six  feet  of  water  to  flow  from 
Lake  ^Michigan  directly  intu  it  through  tlie  suniniit  hetween 
Lockport  and  Chicago.  By  reducing  these  dimensions  to  a 
shallow  cut  tlie  work  could  he  done  for  $1,600,0(»0,  and  the 
canal  could  he  su{)plied  with  water  by  a  steam  pump.*  It 
now  remained  to  negotiate  the  necessary  loan  to  Unish  the 
canal  as  per  the  reduced  dimensions.  To  accomplish  this  re- 
sult the  following  gentlemen  met  in  council  in  the  fall  of 
18-42:  Arthur  Bronson,  of  Nev  York,  and  Wm.  B.  Ogden, 
Justin  Butteriield  and  Isaac  N.  Arnold,  of  Chicago.  At  this 
meeting  Mr.  Bronson  proposed  to  offer  to  the  bondholders  the 
canal  and  its  revenues  when  tinished,  including  its  landed 
equities,  as  security  for  the  advances  required  to  finish  it.  The 
plan  was  timely,  simple  and  just,  and  it  only  required  the 
sanction  of  the  state  to  put  it  into  practice.  Mr.  Butterfield 
drew  up  the  necessary  bill  for  presentation  to  the  legislsture, 
and  Governor  Ford  used  his  influence  in  its  favor.  Mr. 
Arnold  was  then  chairman  of  the  committee  on  finance,  and 
rendered  essential  service  in  the  passage  c!"  the  bill,  whicli 
only  escaped  defeat  by  a  small  majority.  Woi'k  was  resumed 
on  the  canal  as  soon  as  the  loan  was  obtained  by  the  terms 
which  the  new  bill  made  it  legal  to  offer  to  the  bondholders, 
which  was  not  till  1845.  The  canal  was  finished  April  19th, 
1848. 

Financial  embarrassment  was  not  the  only  thing  against 
which  Governor  Ford  had  to  contend.  The  Mormons  had 
settled  at  Nauvoo  in  1840,  and  early  in  his  administration 
disturbances  with  them  began.  Acts  of  violence  soon  accu- 
mulated on  both  sides,  till  the  Mormons  left  the  state  in  the 
spring  of  1846. 

The  Mexican  war  was  declared  during  his  administration, 

*To  E.  B.  Talcott  and  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  belongs  the  honor  of  first  pro- 
posing this  plan. 


70  CONSTITUTIONAL   CONVENTION. 

and  the  first  rei^iment  of  Illinois  volunteers  ever  enrolled  for 
field  service  wus  sent  to  tiiis  wnr. 

Augustus  C.  French  was  elected  governor  at  the  August 
election  in  1846,  and  inaugurated  December  0th.  Joseph  B. 
Wells  was  elected  lieutenant  governor.  The  Mexican  war  was 
then  in  full  tide  of  progress,  and  live  more  regiments  of  Illi- 
nois volunteers  were  raised  bv  the  state  for  its  service.  The 
treaty  of  Guadaloupe  Hidalgo,  wliich  bears  date  of  February 
2d,  ISiS,  established  peace  between  the  two  belligerent  na- 
tions, and  the  soldiers  returned  and  were  honoral)ly  discharged. 

On  the  7th  of  June,  1847,  a  convention  was  hehl  in  Spring- 
field for  the  purpose  of  framing  a  new  constitution.  Its  labors 
were  concluded  on  the  31st  of  the  following  August,  and  the 
new  constitution  was  ratified  by  a  vote  of  the  people  in  March, 
1848.  By  its  provisions  a  new  election  of  state  ofiicers  was 
ordered. 

Governor  French  was  reelected,  which  gave  him  two  terms, 
though  the  first  term  was  aV)ridged  to  two  years.  Wm.  Mur- 
try  was  lieutenant  governor  during  his  second  term.  Previous 
to  the  constitution  of  1848  there  had  been  no  subdivision  of 
counties  into  civil  townships,  and  consequently  no  township 
organization.  This  machinery  for  the  details  of  local  govern- 
ment was  authorized  1>y  the  new  constitution,  and  was  per- 
fected in  1851,  according  to  the  system  now  in  practice.  The 
law  of  homestead  exemption  was  also  introduced  the  same 
year. 

Joel  A.  Matteson  was  elected  governor  in  November,  1852, 
and  inaugurated  January  9th,  1853.  G.  Koerner  was  lieuten- 
ant governor.  At  the  same  general  election  for  governor  a 
new  element  in  politics  was  evolved  by  making  up  a  ticket  for 
state  ofiicers  representing  the  abolition  party,  at  the  head  of 
which  stood  the  name  of  Dexter  A.  Knowlton,  candidate  for 
governor,  and  Phiio  Carpenter,  candidate  for  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor. This  was  the  first  attempt  to  recognize  this  party 
politically  in  the  state.     It  was  unsuccessful,  as  the  candidates 


E.    B.    WASIIBUKNK.  71 

were  not  elected,  but  to  offset  the  defeat  a  substiintial  victory 
to  the  an ti -slavery  cause  was  gained  in  November  the  same 
year  by  the  election  of"  E.  B.  Washburne  to  congress.  This 
was  accomj)lished  by  a  union  of  the  old  whig  party  with  the  ' 
anti-slavery  party.  Thf  victory  thus  accomplished  was  no 
barren  one,  for  none  knew  better  than  Mr.  Washburne  how  to 
make  the  most  of  it,  and  from  it  grew  the  events,  step  by  step, 
which  brought  Abraham  Lincoln  before  the  people  as  an  elo- 
quent exponent  of  the  cause  that  Mr.  VVashburue's  election 
had  crowned  with  the  prestige  oi'  victory  and  honored  with 
his  official  service. 

Another  notable  event  during  Governor  Matteson's  admin- 
istration was  a  state  law  for  the  support  of  public  shoois, 
passed  on  the  loth  of  February,  1855. 

Wm.  II.  Bissell  was  elected  governor  at  the  November  elec- 
tion in  1856.  and  inaugurated  January  12th,  1857.  John 
Wood  was  elected  lieutenant  governor.  It  was  during  the 
eventful  campaign  of  Buchanan  and  Fremont's  presidential 
CJinvass.  Mr.  Bissell  was  a  pronounced  republican,  and  his 
election  was  a  crushing  blow  to  the  old  par^y  in  })ower.  As 
might  be  supposed,  his  administration  was  a  strong  one,  not 
oidy  in  both  branches  of  the  le  pslature,  but  political  circles  out- 
side contributed  their  share  to  keep  the  political  cauldron  boil- 
ing. In  the  winter  of  1858-9  a  United  States  senator  was  to 
be  chosen  to  fill  the  place  of  Judge  Douglas'  expiring  term. 
His  reelection  was  looked  upon  to  be  a  necessity  to  vindicate 
the  position  he  had  taken  in  destroying  the  Missouri  Com- 
promise. Meanwhile  the  republican  party  were  equally  tena- 
cious to  defend  the  position  which  they  had  taken  antagonistic 
to  the  extension  of  slavery  into  new  territories,  and  for  an 
instrument  wherewith  to  accomplish  this  result  by  the  defeat 
of  Douglas,  their  choice  fell  on  Abraham  Lincoln  as  a,  candi- 
date to  oppose  him  for  the  senatorship.  The  joint  debate 
between  these  two  representatives  of  their  respective  parties' 
forms  an  era  in  national  politics  not  soon  to  be  forgotten.  Both 


72  ABRAHAM    LINCOLN. 

were  champions,  and  under  their  forensic  power  tlie  issue 
gatliered  force  throuijhout  the  length  and  breadth  of  the  United 
States.  Mr.  Doughis  won  the  election  by  a  small  majority  in 
the  legislature,  while  Mr.  Lincoln  had  a  small  majority  of  tii" 
voters,  hut  his  very  defeat  crowned  him  with  laurels.  His 
native  power  had  been  shown,  and  that  was  all  the  real  exi- 
gency demanded,  as  was  proven  by  the  sequel. 

On  the  8th  of  March,  18()(),  Governor  Bissell  died,  and 
John  Wood,  the  lieutenant  governor,  served  the  ensuing  ten 
months  of  the  term.  On  the  16th  of  the  following  May  the 
great  republican  convention  met  in  Chicago.  That  this  place 
was  selected  for  it  gave  evidence  of  the  commanding  position 
of  the  state,  especially  in  an  issue  which  even  then  threatened 
the  j)eace  of  the  whole  Union.  On  the  third  ballot  at  this 
convention  Abraham  Lincoln  was  nominated  as  the  republican 
candidate  for  the  presidency,  and  Hannibal  Hamlin  was  ncmii- 
nated  as  candidate  for  the  vice  presidency,  when  the  conven- 
tion adjourned. 

Richard  Yates  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  at  the  autumn 
election  of  1860,  and  inaugurated  January  14rth,  1861.  Thomas 
Marshall  was  eLcted  lieutenant  governor.  The  alarms  of  civil 
war  were  even  then  sounding,  but  when  Fort  Sumter  was  fired 
on  these  alarms  became  realities.  Then  it  was  that  our  Llii- 
nois  senator,  Stephen  A.  Douglas,  covered  himself  with  glory, 
and  honored  his  state  by  a  hearty  endorsement  of  Mr.  Lin- 
coln's policy,  and  although  he  soon  afterwards  died,  he  had 
set  a  noble  exam])le  of  patriotism  and  magnanimity  to  his 
party,  which  had  a  most  salutary  effect  on  the  state  and  on 
the  issues  of  the  war. 

The  number  of  troops  sent  from  Hlinois  to  the  field  was 
185,941  infantry,  32,082  cavalry,  and  7,277  artillery,  making 
an  aggregate  of  225,300.  Besides  these,  the  array  of  Illinois 
men  who  acted  as  leaders  of  armies  in  the  field  or  of  public 
opinion  in  favor  of  the  principles  for  which  the  Union  armies 
were  fighting,   stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  in  the  whole 


LINCOLN    ASSASSINATED.  73 

United  States,  and  furiiislies  an  historical  record  worthy  of  a 
great  state.  The  following  are  the  prominent  names  of  this 
list,  to  which  large  numbers  might  be  added  of  less  fame  but 
equal  merit  as  to  zeal  for  the  cause:  Abraham  Lincoln,  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  Ulysses  S.  Grant,  John  A.  Logan,  Elihu  B. 
Washburne,  Elmer  E.  Ellsworth,  Colonel  Mulligan,  B.  J. 
Sweet,  Richard  Yates,  Richard  J.  Oglesby,  John  M.  Palmer, 
John  L.  Beveridge,  E.  D.  Baker,  John  F.  Farnswurth,  R.  J. 
Ingersoll. 

Richard  J.  Oglesby  was  elected  governor  at  the  November 
election  of  1864,  and  was  inaugurated  January  18(55.  Wm. 
Bross  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  at  the  same  time.  Peace 
followed  the  ne.xt  spring,  and  the  ratification  of  the  thirteenth 
amendment  to  the  constitution  of  the  United  States,  which 
abolished  slavery,  was  promptly  effected  by  the  Illinois  legis- 
lature. The  following  April,  on  the  morning  of  the  loth, 
news  came  of  the  assassination  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  which 
had  tiiken  place  the  evening  previous  at  Ford's  theatre.  The 
name  of  the  assassin  was  John  Wilkes  Booth.  No  state  in 
the  Union  felt  the  force  of  this  cruel  blow  more  than  Illinois. 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  her  honored  son,  her  pride,  and  it  was  like  a 
death  in  the  family.  The  state  was  in  mourning,  business  was 
laid  aside  in  cities,  and  their  stores  were  closed  without  wait- 
ing for  public  orders  to  do  so,  and  grief  and  indignation  took 
possession  of  every  heart. 

John  M.  Palmer  was  elected  governor  of  Illinois  at  the 
November  election  of  1868,  and  inaugurated  January  11th, 
1869.  John  Doughterty  was  lieutenant  governor  The  great 
feature  of  his  administration  was  the  convention  which  met 
in  Springfield  December  13th,  1869,  to  amend  the  constitu- 
tion of  the  state,  which  had  not  been  changed  since  1848. 
Mr.  Kellogg  speaks  of  the  work  this  convention  accomplished 
as  follows:  "•  In  adopting  the  constitution  of  1870  the  people 
forbid  special  legislation,  condemned  loose  methods  of  legis- 
lation, stopped  reckless  debt  on  the   part  of  the  state,  county 


74  8TATK     INSTITUTIONS. 

and  iiuuiicipality,  restricted  very  materially  the  power  of  the 
legislature,  while  enjoininu-  particular  radical  changes,  increased 
the  reverence  for  Ian-,  tlie  responsibility  ni'  those  who  admin- 
ister it.  and  gave  to  the  minority  in  every  county  a  voice  in 
making  the  laws.  No  other  state  constitution  embraces  so 
many   inlii!)iti>»ns,  and    none  so  many  direct  mandates." 

Eichard  ,1.  (^)glesby  Mas  reelected  governor  in  tlu'  autumn 
of  1ST2,  and  inaumirated  Januarv  18th.  isTo.  John  L. 
Beveridge  was  elected  lieutenant  governor  at  ilie  same  time. 
January  23d  Governor  Oglesby  resigned,  and  was  elected  to 
the  United  States  senate.  ]V[i".  Beveridge  now  became  trov- 
ernor.  Among  the  most  important  measures  <luring  his 
administration  was  one  i'ov  reorganizing  the  state  institutions, 
charitable,  reformatory,  and  penal,  of  which  the  following  are 
the  names:  Northern  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at  Elgin;  East- 
ern Hospital  for  the  Insane,  at  Kankakee;  Central  Hospital 
for  the  Insane,  at  Jacksonville;  Southern  IIos])ital  for  the 
Insane,  at  Anna;  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  at 
elacksonville;  Institutit)n  for  the  Blind,  at  Jacksonville;  Asy- 
lum foi-  Feeble-Minded  Children,  at  Lincoln;  Eye  and  Ear 
Infirmary,  at  Chicago;  Illinois  Orphan  Home,  at  Normal; 
Industrial  I  iiiversity.  at  Urbana;  State  Normal  University, 
at  Normal;  Soutliern  Normal  University,  at  Carbondale;  Illi- 
nois State  Penitentiary,  at  Joliet;  Southern  IlliiKus  Peniten- 
tiary, at  Chester;   State  Reform  School,  at  Pontiac. 

Shell >y  ^r.  Cullom  was  elected  governor  in  the  fall  of  1876, 
and  inaugurated  January  Sth,  1877.  Andrew  Shuman.  of  the 
Chicago  EvenliKj  JournnU  was  at  the  same  time  elected  lieu- 
tenant governor.  Great  depression  prevailed  in  financial 
circles  at  this  time,  as  a  consequence  of  the  heavy  failures  of 
1873.  the  effect  of  which  had  seemed  to  gather  force  from 
that  time  to  the  end  of  Governor  Cullom's  first  administra- 
tion. This  unspeculative  period  was  not  calculated  to  call 
forth  any  new  issues,  but  the  governor's  energies  were  at  one 
time  put  to  task  to  quell  a  spirit  of  insubordination  .that  had 


STATE    OUT   OF    DEBT.  76 

been  begun  in  Pittsburg  among  the  laboring  classes,  and 
transferred  to  Illinois  at  Chicago,  East  St.  Luuis  and  Braid- 
wood,  at  which  places  laboring  men  for  a  short  time  refused 
to  work  or  allow  others  to  work.  These  disturbances  were 
soon  quelled,  and  the  wheels  of  industry  again  set   in  motion. 

Governor  CuUom  was  reelected  in  the  fall  «>f  1880,  and 
inaugurated  January  10th,  1881.  John  M.  Hamilton  was 
elected  lieutenant  governor  at  the  same  time.  The  governor 
announced  in  his  message  that  the  last  dollar  of  the  state  debt 
had  been  paid  or  provided  for.  The  only  amounts  not  paid 
were  $23,000  due,  upon  which  interest  had  stopped,  and  which 
had  never  been  ]> resented  for  collection  and  supposed  to  have 
been  lost,  and  about  $950,000  due  from  the  state  to  the  school 
fund,  and  which  cannot  be  paid,  as  that  fund  only  requires  the 
interest  on  the  amount.  As  the  state  annually  collects  for  the 
school  fund  and  pays  oiit  to  the  counties  $1,000,000,  it  is 
simply  a  legal  tiction  to  call  this  a  debt. 

March  ith,  1883,  the  term  of  David  Davis  as  senator  from 
Illinois  expired,  and  Governor  Cullom  was  chosen  to  fill  his 
place.  This  promoted  Lieutenant  Governor  John  M,  Hamilton 
to  the  position  made  vacant  by  the  resignation  of  Governor 
Cullom,  and  he  is  the  present  governor  of  Illinois. 


76  LEGISLATIVE    DEl'AliTME^T. 


CHAPTKR  VTT. 


STATE  GOVEHNxMENT  OF  ILLINOIS. 

BY    .\AJ{ON    W.    KELLO(;(}. 

Blackstone  defines  law  as  "  a  rule  of  action";  civil  law  as  a 
rule  of  civil  action,  prescribing  what  is  rieht  and  forbidding 
what  is  wrong. 

The  civil  government  of  the  state  is  estaWished  by  the  \vill 
of  the  people — by  which  word  is  meant  male  citizen  of  legal 
age — as  expressed  in  a  written  constitution,  voted  for  directly 
by  the  people,  and  in  laws  passed  in  conformity  to  that  con- 
stitution by  a  general  assembly,  composed  of  two  houses,  the 
senate  and  the  hoixse  of  representatives,  elected  by  the  people 
from  fifty-one  separate  districts. 

All  laws  to  be  valid  must  be  passed  by  both  houses  in  the 
way  prescribed  by  the  constitution,  must  be  in  accordance  with 
its  requirements,  and  not  repugnant  to  the  laws  and  constitu- 
tion of  the  United  States. 

The  powers  of  government  of  this  state,  like  all  others  in 
civilized  countries,  are  divided  into  three  distinct  departments, 
legislative,  executive,  and  judicial,  no  one  of  which  can  inter- 
fere with  either  of  the  others. 

THK    LEGISLATIVK    DEPARTMENT. 

Of  Election. — Tlie  powers  ajid  duties  of  the  legislative  de- 
partment are  wholly  defined  in  the  state  constitution;  restric- 
tions upon  its  powers  are  provided  both  in  the  state  and  fed- 
eral constitutions. 

Elections  of  members  of  the  general  assembly  occur  bien- 
nially, on  the  years  of  even  date,  on  Tuesday  next  after  the 


Ei.ECriONS.  77 

first  Monday  of  l^ovcmber.  At  each  of  these  elections  all  tlie 
members  of  the  house  arc  elected,  three  from  each  district, 
and  as  nearly  as  possible  one-half  of  the  senators.  The  dis- 
tricts are  reformed  every  ten  years,  on  the  year  foll«Avin<r  the 
year  of  the  federal  census,  and  must  be  formed  of  contiguous 
territory,  and,  as  nearly  as  may  be,  without  dividing  counties 
(except  where  a  county  is  lar^e  enough  for  more  than  one  dis- 
trict) of  equal  population.  The  number  of  districts  cannot 
be  increased  or  diminished. 

Members  of  the  house  are  elected  on  what  is  called  the 
"cumulative  plan,"  a  plan  by  which  the  political  party  which 
is  in  the  minority  in  any  district  may  elect  one  of  the  three 
representatives  by  concentrating  their  force,  and  hence  is 
frecjuently  called  the  "  minority  plan."  This  plan  permits 
any  voter  to  cast  three  votes  for  representative.  He  may  cast 
all  lor  one  candidate,  two  for  one  and  one  for  another,  one  for 
each  of  three,  or  one  and  a  lialf  votes  for  each  of  two  can- 
didates. No  other  state  in  the  Union  has  this  cumulative 
plan  of  voting.  In  all  elections  the  candidate  receiving  the 
hiifhest  number  of  votes  is  elected. 

Powers  and  Duties. — All  laws  passed  by  the  general  assem- 
l)ly  must  have  been  read  in  full  on  three  separate  days  in  each 
house,  printed,  and  have  received  the  affirmative  votes  of  a 
majority  of  those  elected  to  each  liouse — that  is,  twenty-six  in 
the  senate  and  seventy-seven  in  the  house,  and  the  names  of 
those  voting  must  be  entered  on  the  journal.  In  addition  to 
these  constitutional  provisions,  each  house  adopts  certain  rules, 
wliich  may  l)e,  and  often  are,  suspended  by  a  two-thirds  vote. 
These  rules  provide,  among  other  things,  that  l)ills  shall  be  re- 
ferred to  the  standing  committees  of  the  house,  where  they 
are  discussed,  and  amendments  suggested  and  prepared,  but  no 
committee  can  do  more  than  recommend  action.  It  is  also 
the  duty,  specilically,  of  the  general  assembly  to  appropriate 
money  to  carry  on  the  state  government,  pass  laws  to  provide 
a  system  of  free  schools,  to  regulate  the  charges  of  railroads, 


78  LEGI8LATIVK    HKSTRICTIONS. 

to  protect  producers  and  sliij)pers  ut"  grain,  for  inspection  of 
grain,  to  raise  revenue,  to  fix  fees  and  salaries  of  officers,  to 
provide  ft)r  county  and  township  or<^anizati()ns,  and  make  a^r- 
tain  changes  in  the  judicial  system  of  the  state. 

Limitation.^  and  lieHrirtions. — The  theorv  of  tlie  legis- 
lative  power  is,  and  we  (U'rived  it  from  the  mother  country, 
which  lias  no  written  formal  constitution,  that  a  legislature 
may  do  anytiiing  not  physically  impossible.  To  obviate  the 
difficulties  which  would  grow  out  of  the  use  of  absolute 
power,  all  the  states  of  the  Union  have  restricted  legislative 
power.  Illinois  stands  in  advance  of  all  otiier  states  in  the 
number  of  such  limitations.  The  most  important  of  these, 
next  to  those  established  by  the  "  bill  of  rights,"  common  to 
all  written  constitutions — no  person  shall  be  «lej)rived  of  life, 
liberty  or  property,  without  due  process  of  law,  shall  enjoy 
religions  liberty,  liberty  of  the  press,  trial  by  jury.  Tiiay  bear 
arms,  may  give  bail  when  accused  of  all  crimes  except  murder 
in  the  first  degree,  to  freely  assemble,  petition,  etc. — are:  that 
all  legislation  shall  be  general,  no  special  or  local  laws  shall 
be  passed;  that  lotteries  or  gift  enterprises  shall  not  be  auth- 
orized; that  no  bill  shall  contain  but  one  subject,  and  that 
shall  be  expressed  in  its  title;  no  existing  law  shall  be  altered 
or  amended  by  reference  to  its  title,  but  the  section  amended 
must  appear  in  the  bill;  that  the  canal  shall  not  be  sold  or 
leased,  nor  more  than  three  and  a  half  million  dollars  ex- 
pended on  the  state  house  without  a  vote  of  the  people;  that 
counties  and  other  localities  shall  not  be  authorized  to  vote 
aid  to  railroads  or  other  enterprises,  or  exempt  any  pro])erty 
from  taxation;  that  no  debt  shall  be  authorized  beyond  5  per 
cent,  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  real  and  personal  property 
of  any  county,  city,  town  or  district;  that  the  general  assembly 
shall  not  increase  its  own  pay,  or  that  of  any  officer  of  the  state 
or  county,  and  that  it  shall  not  assume  the  debt  of  any  county. 

THE    EXECUTIVE    DEPARTMENT. 

The  executive  department  enforces  and  executes  the  will  of 


KXECITIVK    DKl'AKTMKNT.  79 

the  people  as  expressed  in  thf''"  constitution  iind  law.s,  subject 
to  such  intiTprctatioii  as  tiie  judiciary  may  ^ive. 

Ilmr  ('(tiixt'dutcd. — The  extcutioii  of  the  laws  is  jdaced  in 
the  hands  of  a  m>vernor,  secretary  of  state,  treasurer,  attorncv 
general,  auditor  of  {)ul)lic  accounts,  superintendent  of  public 
instruction,  and  state  hoard  of  equalization  of  assessments, 
elected  hy  the  people,  all  tor  four  years  except  the  treasurer, 
who  holds  his  office  f(U'  two  yt'ars  and  cannot  be  his  own  suc- 
cessor, and  in  several  boards  of  commii^tiloners  and  trustees 
aj)pointe(l  by  the  <;ovurnor  with  the  a]»[»roval  of  the  senate. 

The  "boards,"  which  are  all  established  by  law,  and  are 
mere  assistants  of  the  ^oyeruor  in  performinfjf  specific  acts  of 
duty  aiul  authority,  are:  Ilailroad  and  warehouse  counnission- 
ers,  three  members;  commissioners  of  state  charities,  five 
members;  health,  seven  mendters;  educatujn.  fifteen  mem- 
bers; penitentiary  commissioners,  three  members;  canal  com- 
missioners, three  members;  fish  commissioners,  three  mem- 
bers; pharmacy,  five  members;  and  boards  of  trustees  for 
each  state  institution,  three  metubers.  The  state  board  of 
agriculture,  twenty-one  members,  which  l)elongs  to  the  exec- 
utive branch,  is  elected  by  delejfates  selected  bv  county  and 
uniou  agricultural  societies,  as  prescribed  by  law. 

Duties. — The  Governor  \h  charged  with  seeing  that  the  laws 
are  faithfully  executed;  he  must  approve  all  bills  before  they 
become  laws;  appoint  officers  where  no  provision  is  made  for 
their  election,  and,  through  the  various  boards  of  commission- 
ers and  trustees,  enforce  laws  and  regulations  in  the  various 
branches  of  the  state  government.  lie  may  remove  officers 
for  dereliction  of  duty;  must  approve  of  accounts  other  than 
regular  salaries;  is  commander-in-chief  of  the  militia,  and 
commissions  all  officers. 

The  Lieutenant  Guvornor  presides  over  the  senate,  but  cannot 

.vote  except  in  case  of  a  tie,  and  acts  as  governor  in  the  absence 

from  the  state  of  that  officer,  or  during  his  temporary  inability 

to  act,  and  become  governor  for  the   balance  of  the  term  of 


80  STATE    OFFICERS, 

office  in  case  ot"  resignation,  death,  or  removal  from  otiice  of 
the  governor.  From  the  reports  made  to  him  by  all  other 
state  officers,  commissioners  and  trustees,  all  of  which  are 
printed,  we  derive  most  of  tlie  information  which  we  have  of 
the  affairs  of  the  state,  its  expenses,  and  what  the  money  is 
ex]>ende(l  for. 

The  Auditor  of  Public  Accounts  stands  between  the  people 
and  the  laws.  No  monev  can  be  d"awn  from  the  treasury  but 
upon  his  warrant,  and  his  duty  is  to  see  that  the  money  has  l)een 
ajipropriated  by  laws  properly  passed,  and  all  accounts  therefor 
properly  certihed  and  apprt)ved  before  he  draws  liis  warrant. 
He  has  also,  by  virtue  of  his  office,  charge  of  the  insurance 
department  of  the  state.  To  him  all  companies  rej)ort,  and 
receive  from  him  authority  to  do  business  in  the  state. 

The  Secretary  of  State  keeps  all  the  records.  He  must  keep 
and  preserve  the  journals  of  the  general  assembly,  a  roll  of  all 
laws  passed,  a  register  of  all  official  acts  of  the  governor,  keep 
the  great  seal  of  state,  attest  all  proclamations  and  commis- 
sions of  the  governor,  certify  to  all  copies  of  laws,  issue  all 
certificates  of  incorporation,  and  take  charge  of  and  preserve 
all  the  property  of  the  state  at  Springfield. 

The  Treasurer  keeps  the  public  funds  and  all  moneys  directed 
by  law  to  be  placed  in  his  custody;  he  receives  and  pavs  out 
money  only  on  the  order  of  the  auditor  of  public  accounts. 

The  Attorney  General  is  the  law  officer  of  the  state.  He 
consults  and  advises  state,  county,  and  other  officials  (»n  law 
points  connected  with  their  official  duties,  appears  as  counsel 
for  the  state  in  any  courts,  state  or  federal.  He  may  attend  at 
the  trial  of  any  person  charged  with  crime,  and  direct  the 
prosecution,  and  give  opinion  in  writing  to  either  branch  of  the 
general  assembly,  or  its  standing  committees,  when  called  for. 

The  Super intendi^nt  of  Public  Instruction  has  charge  of  the 
educational  interests  of  the  state,  gives  counsel  and  advice  to 
county  and  city  superintendents,  and  works  to  elevate  the 
standard  of  education  and  the  qualification  of  teachers. 


JLUIOIAL    DEPARTMENT.  81 

Tlie  State  Board  of  Equalization  equalizes  the  assessments 
of  real  and  personal  property  as  made  ])y  the  different  counties, 
and  assesses  the  ca])ital  stock  of  corpf)rations,  tlie  tracks  and 
rolling  stock  of  railroads,  and  sends  to  each  county  clerk  the 
result  of  their  labors.  The  auditor  is  ex-officio  the  chairman 
of  the  board. 

THE    JUniCIAf,    DKPAKTMENT. 

The  Judicial  Power  of  the  state  is  vested  by  the  constitution 
in  one  supreme  court,  sev'en  judges;  four  appellate  courts," 
three  judges  each;  circuit  courts,  a  superior  court  of  Cook 
county,  a  few  city  courts  established  by  special  acts  previous 
t(»  the  adoption  of  the  present  constitution  and  retained  by  its 
provisions,  probate  courts  in  counties  of  one  hundred  thousand 
or  more  inhabitants,  county  courts,  which  are  also  courts  of 
probate  in  all  counties  of  less  inhabitants  than  necessary  to 
entitle  them  to  probate  courts,  and  justices  of  the  peace.  Every 
court  except  the  latter  has  a  clerk  for  the  keeping  of  its  records. 
The  general  duties  of  courts  are  to  hear  and  determine  issues 
between  citizens,  to  try  persons  accused  of  crime,  to  construe 
the  laws  passed  by  the  legislature,  decide  as  to  their  constitu- 
ti«)nality,  and  of  probate  courts  to  settle  the  estates  of  deceased 
persons  and  exercise  a  control  over  the  property  of  minors. 
In  the  former  cases  mentioned,  juries  of  the  people,  except 
explicitly  waived  by  the  parties,  must  hear  the  evidence,  under 
direction  of  the  court,  and  decide  the  matter.  In  construing 
and  deciding  the  constitutionality  of  laws  no  jury  is  had.  All 
laws  are  supposed  to  be  constitutional  until  otherwise  decided. 

Tenure  of  Office. — Judges,  clerks,  prosecuting  attorneys 
and  justices  of  the  peace  are  elected  by  the  people  ;  supreme 
judges  for  nine  years,  their  clerks  for  six  years,  circuit  judges 
for  six  years,  and  all  other  officers  for  four  years,  except  the 
justices  of  the  peace  in  Cook  county,  who  are  appointed  by 
the  governor,  with  the  consent  of  the  senate,  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  judges  of  that  county. 

6 


82  COUNTY    OFFICERS. 

County  Officers. — In  addition  to  the  officers  mentioned, 
there  are  elected  in  each  connty,  by  the  people,  a  sherift*, 
treasurer,  county  superintendent  of  schools,  coroner,  surveyor, 
and  County  attorney,  wlio.e  duties  are  readily  understood. 
The  county  clerk  is  ex-qffieio  clerk  of  the  county  court.  The 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court  is  ex-officio  recorder  of  deeds  and  mort- 
gages, except  in  counties  of  sixty  thousand  inhabitants,  in  which 
counties  a  recorder  is  elected.  In  counties  which  have  adopted 
"township  organization,"  the  county  affairs  are  managed  by  a 
'board  of  supervisors,  elected  annually,  but  in  townships  of 
more  than  four  thousand  inha])itants  additional  ones,  or  assist- 
ant supervisors,  are  elected,  according  to  population.  The 
affairs  of  Cook  county  are  managed  by  a  board  of  fifteen  com- 
missioners, a  portion  of  whom  are  elected  each  year;  but,  as 
a  part  of  the  old  system  of  township  organizatioji,  township 
officers  are  elected  annually  in  that  county,  including  the  three 
townships  which  make  up  the  cit}-  of  Chicago.  In  counties 
which  have  not  adopted  "  township  organization,"  the  affairs 
are  conducted  by  a  board  of  connty  commissioners,  consisting 
of  three  members.  In  New  England  the  township  was  the 
nnit  of  ])olitical  power.  This  principle  has  spread  west,  like 
other  IS^ew  England  institutions,  and  has  become  the  rule  in 
the  northern  portion  of  this  state. 

Township  Officers. — In  counties  under  township  organiza- 
tion there  are  elected  each  year,  besides  officers  heretofore 
named,  a  town  clerk,  assessor,  collector,  highway  commissioner, 
and  every  four  3'ears  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  who, 
although  elected  in  and  by  the  voters  of  townships,  have 
county  jurisdiction. 

City  Officers,  etc. — All  cities  wliich  are  under  the  general 
incorj)oration  act  elect  a  mayor,  clerk,  attorney,  treasurer,  and 
not  less  than  six  aldermen  for  two  years.  The  mayor  appoints 
the  other  officers.  Cities  which  are  under  old  special  char- 
ters elect  such  officers  as  their  particular  charters  provide  for. 
Villages  elect  a  board  of  trustees  each  year.     Townships  elect 


VILLAGE    OFFICERS.  83 

three  school  trustees  to  care  for  tlieir  school  lunds,  and  scnool 
districts  elect  three  directors,  or  six  members  of  boards  of 
education.  It  would  seem  that  we  have  no  lack  of  elections 
and  otHcials.  By  the  laws  of  Illinois,  women  are  eligible  to 
any  school  office. 

CONCLUSION. 

The  preparation  of  these  pages  has  been  a  labor  of  love  by 
one  inspired  by  unbounded  admiration  for  a  state  great  in  all 
those  things  which  awaken  esteem  and  patriotic  pride. 
We  have  a  state  great  in  area,  of  incomparable  richness 
of  soil,  the  productive  capacity  of  which  we  have  not  yet 
fully  tested.  There  is  not  on  the  face  of  the  globe  another 
tract  of  equal  size,  of  equal  productive  capacity.  It  has 
nearly  six  hundred  miles  of  mivigable  water  boundary.  Its 
extreme  length  from  north  to  south  gives  it  a  variety  of 
climate  enjoyed  by  few  other  states  in  the  Union.  It  is 
underlaid  v'tli  coal  sufficient  to  give  it  manufacturing  power- 
for  millions  who  are  to  make  it  their  home.  Its  progressive 
strides  from  a  distant  border  to  the  position  of  a  central  state; 
from  the  seat  of  Indian  trade  in  trii  Lets  and  furs  to  a  great 
commercial  center;  from  a  territory  to  the  foremost  agricult- 
ural state  in  the  Union,  has  been  witnessed  by  many  of  her 
citizens  who  are  still  actively  engaged  in  the  persuits  of  .every 
day  life.     Such  is  the  condition  of  Illinois  in  1883. 


84  FIRST    MERCHANDISE. 


CHAPTER  VTTI. 


COMMEltCLU.  HISTORY  OF  ILLINOIS. 

No  nation  or  state  ever  rose  high  in  the  scale  of  civilization 
whose  commercial  relations  with  the  outside  world  were  lim- 
ited, and  it  may  with  truth  be  said  that  nations  rise  in  wealth 
and  grandeur  almost  in  pi'oportion  as  they  barter,  buy  and 
sell  with  other  nations  or  states. 

The  progress  of  Illinois  in  this  direction  has  been  marked 
by  many  a  change  in  the  varied  history  of  the  country.  Buf- 
falo hides  were  the  first  articles  of  merchandise  ever  shipped 
from  the  Illinois  country,  and  the  export  of  these  began  about 
1720.  They  were  sent  down  the  Mississippi  river  to  New 
Orleans,  which  had  then  just  been  laid  out  as  a  French  village. 
A  few  years  later  wlieat,  llour,  and  other  agricultural  produc- 
tions followed  in  the  same  channel.  The  French  fur  traders 
came  into  Northern  Illuiois  as  early  as  the  winter  of  1674-5,* 
and  bought  furs  of  the  Indians  for  the  Canada  trade,  but  this 
was  not  properly  an  ex])ort  trade  by  white  men,  for  these 
traders  were  employed  by  Canadian  com])anies  to  do  thisAvork. 

Shortly  after  the  English  took  possession  of  Illinois  in  17(55, 
the  British  boa)'d  of  trade  took  the  subject  under  consider- 
ation of  turning  the  trade  of  their  French  subjects  here  away 
from  the  French  of  New  Orleans  to  the  lakes  and  tlie  St. 
Lawrence  river,  but  nothing  was  ever  done  to  accomplish  such 

a  result. 

Spain  purchased  Louisiana  of  France  in  1762,  which  country 

then  included  the  territory  west  of  the   Mississippi   rive;    :md 

*See  Marquette's  Journal,  written  in  "Chicagou,"  1675,  translated  by  J. 
G.  Shea,  and  published  in  Euglisli  in  Dawson's  IlistoricaJ  Mag.,  New  York- 


SPANISH  rOLICY.  85 

New  Oileans  on  its  east  Itaiik.  Shortly  after  the  peace  of 
Paris,  in  1783,  Spain  closed  the  navi<;ation  (jf  tlie  Mississi])pi 
river  against  tlie  coninierce  of  the  west,*  which  cut  nlf  her 
only  avaihible  channel  of  coininnnication  with  the  sea,  t\>v  the 
whole  of  Northern  Illinois  was  then  a  desolate  wild,  ami  the 
shores  uf  Lake  ]\f'chigan  could  not  he  reached  by  the  Fivnch 
of  Illinois  e.\cei)t  by  a  long  overland  route  across  the  prairies, 
over  which  neither  roads  had  been  built,  nor  had  streams  been 
bridged. 

In  1795  Spain  agreed  by  treatv,  negotiated  Oclober  27th  by 
Thomas  Pinkney  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  to  yield  to 
the  latter  power  the  free  navigation  of  the  Mississi])pi,|-  but 
her  ])rocrastinating  policy  in  relinquishing  her  forts  on  the 
banks  of  this  stream,  at  Natchez  and  other  place.-,  delayed  its 
fulfillment  till  the  Spanish  gcn'ernment  retroceded  Louisiana 
tt  the  French  in  180O,  by  the  secret  treaty  of  St.  Ildefonso. 
This  treaty  was  not  published  to  the  nations  till  two  years 
later,  the  next  year  aftei-  which  Louisiana  was  purchased  ©f 
the  French  by  the  United  States,  the  treaty  for  which  was 
r^titied  by  congress  on  the  21st  of  October,  1803. 

From  this  time  onward  till  the  water  craft  of  the  lakes  had 
reached  Chicago  as  common  carriers,  which  was  in  ai)out 
1835,  the  export  trade  of  Illinois  went  to  New  Orleans  with- 
out hindrance,  and  even  from   this   latter   date  (1835)  to  the 

*VVln'n  England  c()nc<'ded  the  Missisfsippi  river  as  the  western  boundarj'  of 
the  United  States  at  the  peaee  of  1783,  she  also  transferred  to  the  new  govern- 
ment her  rights  of  navigating  this  stream.  When  this  treaty  was  signed 
at  Paris,  it  was  done  without  the  knowledge  of  the  Spanish  minister,  who 
claimed  for  his  governnunt  all  the  terrilorj- between  the  AUeghanies  and 
the  Mississippi.  Spain  thus  balked  in  her  ambition  to  secure  the  valley  of 
the  Mississippi  to  herself,  was  smarting  under  the  sting  of  having  been 
humiliated  l)y  the  able  diplomacy  of  American  statesmen,  which  was  the 
cause  of  her  waj'wardness  in  excluding  the  Americans  from  navigating  the 
Mississippi.  Iler  excuse  for  this  course  was  that  England  had  transferred 
a  claim  to  which  she  herself  had  no  right,  Avhich  was  perhaps  true,  but  it 
was  in  vnin  that  the  Spani.sh  govermr.cr.'  protested  against  the  new  order 
of  destiny  that  the  fortunes  ot  v.'ar  had  brought. 

tSee  Treaty  of  San  Lorenzo  el  Real,  Am.  State  Papers,  1795. 


86  I'lONEER    BAILROAD8. 

era  ci'  railroads,  the  Mississippi  river  was  a  more  important 
channel  of  trade  to  the  State  of  Illinois  than  the  lakes.  Mean- 
time the  new  motive  power,  destined  to  transcend  both  of  the 
original  channels  of  trade,  was  slowly  and  surely  approaching 
the  state  from  the  Atlantic  coast  across  the  inter\enin«r 
country,  stu<ldin<r  its  hroad  ])lains  with  towns  in  its  course, 
and  multiplying  its  wealth. 

The  legislature  of  Illinois  was  composed  of  men  of  am- 
bitious purposes  from  the  first,  and  this  spirit  seemed  to  gather 
strength  as  other  states  to  the  eastward  set  the  exam})le  of 
building  canals,  and  particularly  i-ailroads. 

The  first  ofiicial  act  here  in  this  direction  took  place  Janu- 
ary 28th,  1831,  at  which  time  an  act  was  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral assemldy  for  the  survey  of  a  route  for  a  canal  or  railroad 
in  St.  Clair  county.*  Other  plans  for  public  transportation 
by  means  of  canals,  slack  water  navigation  and  railroads,  were 
subsequently  chartered  by  the  state,  some  of  Mhich  were  pre- 
mature, while  others  showed  the  wisdom  and  forecast  of  their 
architects.  Of  the  latter  sort  the  Galena  &  Cliicago  Union 
and  the  Illinois  Central  railroads  were  examples — the  first  as 
the  pioneer  east  and  west  line  through  the  state,  and  the  last 
as  the  pioneer  north  and  south  line  from  the  southern  extrem- 
ity of  the  state  to  its  great  commercial  emporium  on  the  lakes 
and  to  its  northwestern  tangent. 

The  Galena  &  Chicago  Union  railway  company  was  incor- 
porated by  an  act  of  the  legislature  January  l^Jth,  1836.  The 
first  ten  miles  of  the  road  was  finished  from  Chicago  to  Har- 
lem December  30th,  1848.  The  road  was  completed  to  the 
Mississip})i  river  at  Fulton  December  10th,  1855.  It  was  the 
first  railroad  tliat  turned  a  locomotive  wheel  in  the  city  of 
Chicago,  and  the  first  built  in  the  state  to  connect  the  com- 
merce of  the  Mississippi  to  that  of  the  lakes — the  dream  of  a 
generation  now  fulfilled.      In   October,   1865,   this  road  was 

*See  paper  read  by  W.  K.  Ackennan  before  the  Chicago  Historical  So- 
ciety, February,  1883. 


LAKE    MK'UKiAN.  87 

consolidated  with  tlie  Chicago  tfe  North- Western  railway,  bnt 
its  original  name  will  live  in  history,  together  with  the  faith 
which  its  builders  had  in  Cliicago  when  they  began  the  work 
with  but  small  means  and  slender   patronage. 

The  Illinois  Central  road  was  one  that  liad  been  plaimed  in 
the  minds  of  the  ablest  men  in  Illinois  as  early  as  1835.  The 
canal  connecting  the  lakes  with  the  Illinois  river  was  the 
original  thought  not  only  of  Illinois  statesmen,  bnt  its  concep- 
tion was  the  admiration  of  the  financiers  throughout  the  north. 
As  soon  as  provision  liad  been  made  which  should  give  this 
enterprise  an  assurance  of  success,  the  next  tiling  ti>  be  done 
was  to  extend  the  means  of  transportation  from  the  soutliern 
terminus  of  the  canal  at  La  Salie  to  the  confluence  of  the  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers.  On  the  18th  of  January,  1836,  the 
le<rishiture  took  the  business  in  hand  and  chartered  a  road  for 
tliis  purpose,  but  this  and  other  attempts  in  the  same  direc- 
tion were  failures  till  January  14th,  1851,  at  which  time  the 
present  Illinois  Central  railroad  was  incorporated.  It  was 
finished  to  Dunleith  June  12th,  1855,  and  to  Chicago  Septem- 
ber 26th,  1856.*  Ere  :his  time  t>ther  trunk  lines  were 
traversing  the  state,  and  many  more  were  under  consideration. 

The  Michigan  Southern  and  Central  roads  were  completed 
from  the  east  to  Chicago,  the  first  in  Febriiary  and  the  last  in 
May,  1852,  which  two  were  the  great  exemplary  models  after 
which  so  many  rivals  for  eastern  connections  with  Chicairo 
have  been  built.  The  success  wliich  these  first  attempts 
achieved  established  a  basis  on  wliich  capital  has  ever  since 
souglit  investment  in  Illinois,  and  established  commercial  re- 
lations between  every  section  of  this  state  and  the  world  at 
large. 

Lake  Michigan  extends  her  waters  over  4()0  miles  south  of 
the  northern  limit  of  the  United  States,  which  is  on  the  49th 
parallel.  The  space  thus  crossed  lies  between  the  parallels  of 
41°  30'  and  49°,  and  on  this  broad  belt  between  the  Atlantic 

*Ackermaii's  Address. 


88  ILLINOIS    THE    COMMERCIAL    FOCCS. 

and  the  Pacific  chiefly  lie  the  cities  and  the  channels  of  travel 
between  the  east  and  the  west.  All  these  are  forced  around 
the  sonthern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan,  mostly  through 
Chicago,  and  thence  across  the  state.  Below  Illinois  tliere 
are  nu  great  trunk  lines  leading  cast  and  west,  hut  from  its 
southern  portions  the  railroads  take  southwesterly,  southern, 
and  southeasterly  directions,  as  from  a  common  commercial 
centre  of  the  United  States.  Such  the  physical  furces  of  na- 
ture have  nuide  Illinois,  and  the  lines  uf  travel  only  act  as 
auxiliaries  to  these  forces. 

No  attemi)t  will  here  be  made  to  even  ajjproximate  the 
amount  of  wealth  which  has  come  to  the  state  or  grown  up  in 
its  midst  through  the  introduction  of  railroads.  This  lias 
been  shared  by  the  land  owners  and  the  railroad  comj)anies. 
The  laws  of  the  state  have  regulated  tlie  prices  f  jr  carrying 
passengers  on  the  railroads,  and  made  some  general  restric- 
tions as  to  the  charges  on  freight,  but  a  higher  law  than  man 
can  make  has  set  limits  to  freight  charges  in  the  lakes  and 
rivers  that  inviron  the  state.  Added  to  these,  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  canal,  and  the  Hennepin  canal  when  finished,  will 
set  at  defiance  any  iiLtempt  on  the  part  of  the  railroad  com- 
panies to  demand  unjust  charges  should  they  be  unwise  enough 
to  pursue  such  a  suicidal  policy. 

That  the  present  financial  coadition  of  Illinois  is  one  of 
unexampled  prosperity  must  be  apparent  to  every  observer. 
The  state  is  free  of  debt,  and  agriculture,  the  great  interest  of 
the  state,  is  carried  on  by  perfected  machinery  with  surer 
rewards  than  ordin;iry  mercantile  investments  in  large  cities, 
and  the  farmer  stands  as  high  in  the  social  scale  as  the  legis- 
lator or  the  professional  citizen,  nor  is  any  class  excluded  from 
his  society  if  clothed  with  the  dignity  <jf  courtesy  and  intel- 
ligence, and  to  abate  these  terms  as  requisite  to  good  standing 
in  society  would  be  dangerous  to  the  welfare  of  the  rising 
generation. 


KOKT    DKAKllORN    BUILT.  89 


CHAPTER    IX. 


(I1ILA(;(). 

The  city  of  Chica<iro  and  its  immediate  environs  contains 
al)out  oiie-littli  of  the  po])uhition  of  the  wliole  state.  It  rep- 
resents tlie  interests  not  onlv  of  the  entire  state,  l)ut  to  a  cer- 
tain  extent  those  of  the  nortiier  portions  of  the  United  States 
which  are  hroxiiji;ht  into  commercial  rehitions  witli  her,  and 
also  the  interest  of  the  entire  valley  of  the  ]\lississi])pi,  and 
Texas  to  a  similar  extent.  Her  name  is  older  than  her  history. 
It  was  probably  first  applied  to  the  place  as  the  "  Chica<:<»n 
portage."  There  was  but  little  attraction  to  bring  the  native 
population  here  to  take  up  more  than  a  transient  residence,  con- 
sequently it  never  became  the  se;it  of  a  large  Indian  village. 

In  1S03,  shortly  after  the  purchase  of  Louisiana,  the  United 
States  government  formed  the  design  of  building  a  fort  on  the 
shores  of  Lake  Michigan,  and  sent  commissioners  to  select  a 
site  for  the  ])urpose.  They  selected  the  mouth  of  the  St. 
Joseph  river  for  the  locality  of  it,  but  the  Ottawas  and  Chip- 
pewas  refused  them  the  ground,  and  they  next  proceeded  to 
the  Chicago  river,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  lake.  Six  miles 
square  of  land  at  the  mouth  of  this  river  had  been  ceded  to 
the  United  States  by  the  Indians  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville 
in  1 71)5,  and  on  this  spot  the  fort  was  built.  It  was  finished 
in  1804  and  named  P^'ort  Dearbcn. 

During  the  war  of  1812  it  was  evacuated  by  its  garrison  on 
the    15th  of  May.     A  slaughter  of  the   troops   immeuiately 
ensued  ere  they  had  retreated    more  than  two   miles  on  their 
way  to  Fort  Wayne,  their  point  of  destination.* 
*See  Wabun. 


90  CHICAttO    CIlAUt'KKKl). 

The  fort  was  rebuilt  in  ISlfi,  <and  Chieafj^o  ha«  ever  since 
tliiit  time  l>een  a  ])erinaneiit  resideiit-e  af  Aiuerican  ])ioMeers 
and  settlers.  The  next  year,  ISIT,  Messrs.  ('onaiit  and  Mack, 
fur  traders  at  Detroit,  estal>li>hed  a  brancli  at  ('hicair<>  under 
tlie  superintendence  of  Jolin  Crafts.* 

Soon  after  this  the  American  Fur  Coinpany  huui^lit  nut  the 
estahlisliment,  and  einj)loyed  Mr.  (drafts  in  their  service.  This 
waa  the  pioneer  business  house  (»f  Chicago,  and  its  trade  was 
Indian  bhinkets  and  trinkets  in  e.xclianije  for  furs. 

Tlie  Pottowattoniies  were  then  the  all-prevailing  power  in 
Northern  Illinois,  there  being  no  wliite  settlers  in  the  state 
nortli  uf  Peoria  except  at  Ciiicago.  Fort  Dearborn  was  alwavs 
well  garrisoned,  and  ever  kept  in  readiness  for  an  Indian  out- 
break should  such  a  calamity  occur. 

In  1821  Chicago  and  its  environs  were  surveyed  in  govern- 
ment sections. -j-  In  1820  Chicago  was  surveyed  and  platted 
into  village  lots,  and  a  map  of  the  town  engraved  in  St.  Louis 
the  next  year  and  published.  August  10th,  1833,  Chicago 
was  incorporated  as  a  village,  and  March  4th,  1837,  was  char 
tered  as  a  city.  Since  that  time  tiie  growth  of  the  city  has 
been  more  rapid  than  that  of  any  other  city  in  America,  and, 
as  far  as  known,  than  any  other  in  the  world.  It  now  ranks 
as  the  third  city  in  the  United  States  in  ])opulation,  and  sus- 
tains al)out  the  same  i'rade  as  to  business.  The  jjreat  modern 
event  in  its  history  is  its  lire  of  1871,  a  description  of  which, 
by  request,  Mr.  C.  C.  P.  Ilolden,  the  president  of  the  common 
council  at  the  time  of  the  fire,  has  kindly  furnished  the  writer, 
as  follows: 

Rufus  Bhinclmrd,  Wheaton,  Illinois: 

Deau  Sik. — In  iicconlancc  with  your  request,  I  >ubmit  lu-rcwitli  a  state- 
ment eoiiipiled  from  such  data  as  I  consider  nearly  relial)le  touebiny  the 
losses  of  both  personal  and  real  (buildings)  estate  destroyed  by  the  i^reat 
fire  of  October  8lh  and  9ih,  1871. 

*This  information  is  obtained  from  Gunlon  S.  Hubbard,  wlio  came  to 
C'hicapo  the  next  year,  and  still  lives  at  the  place. 

f Copies  of  these  surveys  are  preserved  at  llaudy  &,  C'o.'s.  Chic  igo. 


TIIK    CKKAT    FIRE.  91 

'riie  fire  destroye<l  the  very  heurt  of  our  city,  tukini^  in  its  penenil  coiirHC 
all  government,  state,  founty,  aiitl  a  large  portion  of  the  nmnicipal  biiild- 
inirs.  Ill  its  ilcvastatiiig  route  it  swept  over  "J.'JOO  acres  of  soil,  burning  to 
destruction  l."i,T<iK  huildiiigs,  lT."i  niamifaclnring  establisiiincnts,  1:.M  niiles 
of  stone  and  other  sidewalks,  iind  7H  miles  of  streets  were  embraced  in  the 
limits  of  the  vast  contlagration. 

To  enumerate  till'  jjroperty  destroyed  by  the  tire  would  he  an  impossi- 
bility, hut  a  tol'  rably  close  approximation  of  the  losses  can  he  furnished, 
and  herewith  I  give  you  a  statement  as  nearh'  <orrect  as  long  research  can 
make  it. 

The  United  Hiates  government  lost  all  its  buildings,  iiiciuding  the  cus- 
tom house,  and  $'i.l;iO,l»0<)  in  money.  The  city  lost,  in  round  niimhers. 
more  than  $:5,ii(»(),(M)0  ;  the  county  also,  lost  he.avily.  Then  there  were  the 
losses  of  the  great  trunk  line  railways,  thi'  chamber  of  commerce  and  the 
board  of  trade,  warehouses  and  elevators,  hanking  corporations  and  pri- 
vate hankers  and  brokers,  insurance  corporations,  newspap»'r  offices  and 
effects,  hotels  and  restaurants,  opera  houses,  theatres  and  other  places  of 
amusement,  churches,  schools  and  otluT  jilaces  of  learning,  the  manufac- 
tories of  all  kinds,  the  vast  shipping  interest,  including  vessels,  t'anal 
boats,  tugs  and  dredges,  tlour,  grain  and  provisions,  the  brewers,  distillers 
and  dealers  in  wines  and  li(iuors,  husir.ess  blocks,  stores  and  dwellings,  dry 
goods,  groceries,  hardware,  iron  safes  and  other  metals,  coal  and  wood, 
clothing,  drugs,  hats,  caps  and  furs,  books,  stationery  and  paper  stock, 
boots  and  shoes,  furniture  and  bedding,  pianos,  organs  and  other  nuisieal 
insiruments  and  music,  millinery,  jewelry,  leather  and  harness  material, 
tailors'  supplies,  paints  and  oils,  livery  and  livery  stock,  libraries  and  paint- 
ings, and  artist  supplies,  and  all  other  kinds  of  business  not  herein  eiui- 
merated— a  total  of  $187,927,000,  made  up  as  follows,  to  wit: 
l.'),768  buildings  (and  in  this  number  were  the  business  blocks, 
custom  house,  court  house,  city  hall,  newspaper  offices,  rail- 
road  stations,    depots  and  offices,  hotels,    churches,    opera 

houses  and  theatres),  and  dwellings $49,239,000 

llousehohl  goods,  silverware,  etc 31,536.000 

Personal  effects,  including  jewelry  and  money 19,840,000 

Flour,  grain  and  provisions  5,202.000 

Wholesale  and  retail  business 46,645,000 

Maiuifacturers  and  shipping ...      14,055,000 

All  other  interest  not  herein  enumerated,  city  losses  ontside  of 
city  hall,  public  libraries,  records,  and  miscellaneous  of  every 
description 21,350,000 

Grand  total $187,927,000 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  total  losses  by  the  great  fire  of  1871  were 
$187,927,000.  The  total  valuation  of  taxable  property  in  the  city  of  Chi- 
cago, as  assessed  for  the  municipal  year,  1871,  was  $289,746,470.  The 
assessment  was  made  for  that  year  on  the  basis  of  50  per  cent,  of  the  true 
valuation  of  the  property  thus  assessed.     Hence  the  real  value  of  all  taxable 


92  THE    GREAT    FIRE. 

property  in  the  city  for  that  year  was  |579,492,940,  and  thus  was  wiped 
out  of  Chicafro's  real  wealth  a  little  more  than  ifl  per  cent,  of  the  same, 
which  would  be  185,487.740,  leavini,^  a  niaruin  nf  loss  over  and  above  this 
amount  of  $2,489,^360.  These  great  losses  bj' fire,  the  like  of  whirh  were 
never  heard  of  before  in  this  or  any  other  country  durintr  the  world's  his- 
tory, were  partially  met  by  201  insurance  companies,  which  companies  had 
at  risk  in  the  burnt  district  the  sum  of  $100,225,780,  of  which  amount  they 
paid,  according  lo  approximation,  the  sum  of  $50,178,925,  leaving  a  net 
loss  to  the  burned  ou!  property  owners  of  $137,748,075.  Sixty-eight 
insurance  companies,  with  assets  of  $24,8f!7,109,  were  compelled  to  go  into 
liquidation  through  losses  sustained  by  the  fire.  Among  the  products  of 
our  soil,  and  which  are  enumerated  in  the  above  item  as  destroj'ed,  maybe 
mentioned  15,000  barrels  of  flour,  4,000  tierces  of  lard,  1,500,000  lbs.  cut 
meats,  G,000  barrels  of  pf)rk,  2,400  tons  broom  corn.  Finally,  it  is  safe  to 
say  that  on  that  fatal  daj' in  the  history  of  Chicago  fully  one  third  of  all 
her  real  wealth  was  destroyed  by  the  conflagration.  Not  only  lliis,  but 
there  were  rendered  homeless  by  that  terrible  calamitj'  more  than  94,000 
souls,  but  sadder  still  is  the  fact,  never  to  be  forgotten,  that  300  human 
lives  were  sacrificed  to  the  flames  of  that  ever  to  be  remembered  day. 

Most  respectfully, 

CHARLES  C.  P.  HOLDEX. 
Chicago,  Illinois,  April  24th,  1883. 

The  total  of  contributions  that  promptly  came  to  Chicago 
for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers  was  $4,820,148.16.  Of  this 
amount  $973,897.80  was  from  foreign  countries.  The  re- 
building of  the  burnt  district  was  a  wonder  of  no  less  ma<;- 
nitude  than  the  fire  itself.  The  btisiness  portion  of  the  city 
now  presents  nc:  only  the  appearance  of  newness,  but  the 
buildings  are  of  tlte  most  approved  pattern  of  architecture 
and  convenience.  By  the  census  of  1880  her  population  was 
503,304,  since  which  time  there  is  evidence  of  increase  in 
numbers  in  an  equal  ratio  of  that  whicli  has  marked  her 
growth  since  she  was  a  village  of  two  or  three  hundred  per- 
sons in  1832. 


INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS  93 


CHAPTER    X. 


INDIAN  NAxMES  IN  ILLINOIS. 

BY  E.    M.    HAIXES. 

Algonquin.— A  town  in  Illinois.  The  name  of  one  of  the 
principal  <,rroups  of  North  American  Indians,  given  to  them 
by  the  French.  Its  meaning  is  in  some  doubt.  It  is  derived 
from  the  Algonquin  language,  and  is  said  to  mean  people  of 
the  other  side,  or  op>posite  shore. 

AsiiKUM. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois;  7nore  and  more.  Thus 
AshkiLin-ahkoose,  lie  is  getting  worse  (more  sick).  Ashkum 
Wahishhih,  it  is  getting  whiter. 

Appanoose.— .1/^.— A  town  in  Illinois.  Kame  of  an  Indian 
chief  of  tlie  Fox  tribe.     The  grandchild. 

Cayuga  {Gwe  u-gweK)—Irq.—X  town  in  Illinois,  Mucky- 
land;  from  a  tribe  of  Indians  in  New  York  of  the  Iroquois 
nation;  they  were  called  Gwe-u-gweh-o-no,  "People  of  the 
Mucky  land." 

CiiEBANSE.— ^1,Y/._A  town  ill  Illinois;  Little  Duck,  from 
an  Indian  chief  of  that  name. 

CuEMUNG.— /r^. — A  town  in  Illinois;  from  a  river  of  that 
name  in  Xew  York,  signifying  hig  horn,  so  named  by  the  In- 
dians from  finding  in  the  bed  of  the  river  a  fossil  elephant's 
tusk. 

Chicago.— Tlie  word  Chicago  is  understood  to  bean  Indian 
word;  at  least  it  is  derived  from  that  source.  What  its  i)re- 
cise  meaning  is,  or  whether  it  has  any  particular  meaning  at 
all  in  its  present  form  as  now  applied,  is  a  matter  of  consid- 
era])le  dispute  among  those  who  have  given  the  subject  atten- 


94  INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS. 

tion.  The  word  comes  to  us  through  the  early  Frencli  ex- 
plorers of  the  west  as  an  Indian  word,  from  the  language  of 
the  Algonquin  group.  Whilst  this  group  of  the  No:  di 
American  tribes  had  one  general  or  generic  language  by  which 
they  were  distinguished,  each  tribe  had  its  dialect,  differ- 
ing more  or  less  from  that  of  tJie  other  tribes  of  the  same 
group.  The  standard  or  parent  language,  however,  since  this 
people  became  known  to  the  whites,  was  that  spoken  by  the 
Ojibways  (Chippeways),  the  most  powerful  and  numerous  of 
the  various  tribes  of  this  group.  Those  who  pretend  to  make, 
any  positive  assertion  as  to  the  correct  meaniiig  of  this  word 
as  an  Indian  word,  seem  to  have  confined  their  investigations 
on  the  subject  to  the  Indian  language  as  spoken  by  the  Ojib- 
ways, without  reference  to  other  dialects,  seeming  to  ignore 
the  fact  that  it  could  come  from  any  other  source,  M'hereupon 
they  reach  the  conclusion,  and  so  assert,  that  it  means  o?iioti, 
garlic,  leek,  or  skunk .  So  far  as  appears  at  this  day,  there 
seems  to  have  been  no  special  inquiry  into  the  origin  or  mean- 
inor  of  this  word  until  about  the  time  of  the  rebuilding"  of 
Fort  Dearborn  in  1816.  The  year  following  that  event  Colonel 
Samuel  A.  Starrow  visited  this  place,  and  in  a  letter  to  Gen- 
eral Jacob  Brown,  of  the  United  States  army,  refers  to  the 
river  here  as  '•  the  River  Chicago  (or  in  the  English — wild 
onion  river)."  Mr,  Schoolcraft,  the  Indian  historian,  in  his 
"  ^Narrative  of  an  Expedition  to  the  Sources  of  the  Mississippi 
River  in  1820,"  in  giving  an  account  of  visiting  Chicago  on 
the  return  of  said  expedition,  speaking  of  the  Chicago  river, 
says:  "  Its  banks  consist  of  a  black  arenaceous  fertile  soil, 
which  is  stated  to  produce  abundantly,  in  its  season,  the  wild 
species  of  cepa  or  leek.  This  circumstance  has  led  the  natives  to 
name  it  the  place  of  the  wild  leek.  Such  is  the  origin  of  the  term 
Chicago,  which  is  a  derivative  by  elision  and  French  annotation 
from  the  work  cM-kauy-ong.  Kaug  is  the  Algonquin  name 
for  the  hystrix  or  porcupine.  It  takes  the  prefix,  clii,  when 
applied  to  the  mustelaputorius  (pole-cat).      The  particle,  chif 


INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS.  05 

is  tlie  comirioii  prefix  of  nouns  to  denote  greatness  in  any 
natural  object,  but  it  is  employed  as  liero  to  mean  the  increase 
or  excess,  as  acridness  or  pungency  in  quality.  The  penulti- 
mate omj  denotes  locality.  The  putorious  is  so  named  from 
this  plant."  Bishop  Baraga,  in  an  appendix  to  his  Ojibway 
dictionary,  says  the  Avord  Chicago  is  a  word  in  the  Cree 
dialect,  a  tribe  of  the  Algonquin  group  called  also  Knistenos. 
"  From  Chiea<j  or  Sil'ag^  a  skunk,  a  kind  of  wildcat, 
which,  at  the  local  term,  makes  Ohlcagokr  In  his  dictionary 
mentioned  he  defines  an  onion  in  the  Oiibway  dialect  as 
^kitchijigagmanj  (French  orthography],  English  orthogra])hy, 
Jilt-che-zhi(j-a-gariL-amh.  The  definition  of  onion  by  Itev. 
Edward  F.  Wilson  in  his  dictionary  of  the  Ojibway  language 
is  keche-she-gaiKj-uh-wunzh.  He  defiries  skunk  as  z/ie  gamj. 
John  Tanner,  for  thirty  years  a  captive  among  the  Ojibways, 
and  man}'  years  United  States  Indian  interpreter,  in  a  "■  Cata- 
logue of  Plants  and  Animals  found  in  the  country  of  the 
Ojibways,  with  English  names,"  appended  to  the  narrarive  of 
his  captivity,  defines  skunk  as  she-gahg.  He  defines  onion  as 
she-gau-ga-w'inzhc  (skunk-weed).  In  a  note  therto  by  Dr. 
James,  editor  of  Tanner's  narrati\e,  it  is  added:  "  From  xhUi- 
gau-ga-winzJie,  this  word  in  the  singular  number,  some  derive 
the  name  Chicago^  The  Indians  it  seems,  at  least  the  Ojib- 
ways, called  the  onion,  garli<\  and  other  weeds  of  like  odor 
by  a  name  which  signified  skunk-weed,  and  in  the  Ojibway 
language  the  words  used  so  express  it.  It  is  noticed  that  all 
who  contend  that  the  word  Chicago,  as  a])plied  to  the  river  and 
city  of  that  name,  means  skunk,  onion  or  the  like,  derive  their 
convictions  on  the  subject  from  one  or  more  of  the  authorities 
which  are  before  cited,  or  from  some  one  familiar  with  the 
Ojibway  language,  who  forms  his  convictions  to  the  same 
efiect  from  the  mere  coincidence  of  sounds.  History  is  so 
uiKsatisfactory  and  varied  in  regard  to  this  word,  that  we  are 
left  at  this  day  to  determine  its  meaning  solely  upon  the  bisis 
of  similarity   of  sounds.     For  there   seems  to  be  no  fact  or 


96  INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS. 

incident  narrated  or  mentioned  in  liistory  that  leads  with  any 
degree  of  certainty  eitlier  to  the  original  meaning  of  this 
word  as  intended,  or  to  the  dialect  from  which  it  is  derived. 
And  it  is  to  be  confessed  that  upon  the  theory  aforesaid,  con- 
ceding that  the  word  comes  from  the  Ojihway  language  or 
dialect,  no  one  is  ])repared  to  dispute  the  assertion  so  gener- 
ally made  that  the  word  is  derived  from  sku/ik.  The  W(jrd 
sl:unA-he'n\g  in  the  Indian  tongue  sim])ly  s/ie-hiug.  In  order 
to  make  C/n-ca(/-o,  the  theory  adopted  is  tluxt  on(/,  an  OjiKway 
local  termination  is  added,  which  makes  Chi-cjKj-ong^  meaning 
at  the  sl'unl;  the  sound  of  ng  being  dro])ped  in  common 
speech,  leaving  the  word  in  the  form  now  used.  Whilst  this 
is  not  inconsistent  in  practice  in  dealing  with  Indian  names, 
there  is  another  theory,  it  is  suggested,  which  may  be  adopted 
in  this  connection  that  would  seem  to  be  equally  consistent. 
The  word  C/n-ca-go,  without  adding  jkj,  would  be  a  fairOjib- 
way  expression.  The  sound  of  o  added  would  denote  the 
genitive,  and  might  be  rendered  thus,  /lim  of  the  sl'unk,  in 
which  case  it  would  probably  be  the  name  of  an  individual, 
and  it  is  stated  that  this  word  is  the  name  not  only  of  some 
one  Indian  chief,  but  the  name  also  of  a  line  of  chiefs  during 
several  generations.  It  is  to  be  remarked,  however,  that  there 
are  some  facts  in  history  in  regard  to  this  word  not  in  har- 
mony with  tlie  definition  generally  contended  for,  as  before 
stated.  The  word  is  first  mentioned  in  early  Mestern  history 
by  Ilennejnn,  in  liis  account  of  La  Salle's  expedition  which 
he  accompanied,  chapter  34  (London  edition,  1099),  the  head- 
ing of  which  is  as  follows:  "  An  account  of  the  building  of  a 
new  fort  on  the  river  of  the  Illinois,  named  by  the  savages 
C lie-can -gon^  and  by  us  Fori  Crevecoeur.''''  This  was  in  Janu- 
ary, 1680.  This  fort  was  at  or  near  the  place  where  Peoria 
in  this  state  now  stands.  Wq  must  believe  that  the  Indian 
word  mentioned,  given  by  the  savages  as  their  name  for  this 
fort,  could  not  in  this  connection  mean  skunk  nor  skunk- 
weed.     The  definition  of  the  French  word  mentioned  would 


INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS.  07 

mean  "broken  heart.''  Hennepin  remarks  that  the  many  dif- 
ficulties thev  labored  under  had  almost  broken  their  hearts. 
May  we  not  therefore  suppose  that  the  Indian  word  thus  ap- 
plied was  intended  to  be  of  similar  import?  The  name  t'J>e- 
ka-gou  thereafter  appears  on  a  map  by  Franquelin  in  1684, 
applied  to  a  rivor  putting  into  the  Des  Plaines  from  the  east 
at  a  point  just  above  the  Kankakee  river,  while  at  the  head  of 
Lake  Michigan  on  this  map  is  the  work  Checago  umeinan. 
At  a  latter  date  what  is  now  called  the  Desplaines  river  was 
called  by  the  early  French  explorers  the  river  Chekagou.  This 
word  as  a  local  name  did  not,  as  would  appear,  reach  the  river 
at  present  so  named,  nor  the  point  where  Chicago  now  is,  until 
at  least  thirty  years  after  the  time  of  Hennepin,  as  before 
mentioned,  and  of  the  circumstances  under  which  this  word 
was  lastly  so  applied,  from  what  dialect  it  came,  or  what  its 
intended  meaning  was,  if  any,  in  its  changed  application,  no 
accoui;t  whatever  is  transmitted  to  us.  The  most  that  can  be 
said  of  the  word  with  any  degree  of  certainty  is  that  it  is  of 
Indian  origin,  and  comes  from  some  dialect  of  the  Algoncpiin 
group,  so  called.  It  must  be  noted,  however,  that  in  the  Ojib- 
way  dialect  this  word,  or  that  which  is  essentially  the  same,  is 
not  confined  in  its  meaning  to  that  contended  for,  as  before 
mentioned.  The  word  may  mean  also  in  that  language  to 
forbear,  or  avoid,  from  kah-go,  forhear,  and  che,  a  prefix  an- 
swering to  our  preposition  to,  or  it  may  mean  something  great, 
from  ka-go,  something,  and  cM,  from  glt-ehe,  great.  Besides 
several  other  words  or  expressions  which  may  be  found  in  this 
dialect  of  the  same  sound,  yet  of  different  meanings,  Che-ca- 
gua  was  the  name  of  a  noted  Sac  chief,  and  means,  in  that 
dialect,  he  that  stands  by  the  tree  In  the  Pottawattomie  dia- 
lect the  word  ehoe-ca-go,  without  addition  or  abridgement, 
means  destitute.  Now,  if  this  word  was  applied  to  the  river 
which  at  present  bears  this  name  from  the  local  circumstance 
as  claimed,  that  of  the  abundance  of  skunk-weed  upon  its 
banks,  it  would  seem  to  follow  that  it  must  have  been  so  given 

7 


(•^  INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS. 

by  the  tribe  who  then  inhabited  or  dwelt  in  the  vicinity.  At 
tlie  time  tliis  word  lirst  appeared  in  this  locality,  the  country 
about  was  inhabited,  we  are  informed,  by  tlie  tribe  of  Mianiis 
in  whose  dialect  the  word  for  skunk  or  pole-eat  was  se-kaw- 
kicaw.  The  Miamis,  it  seems,  were  succeeded  by  the  Potta- 
wattomies.  We  liave  no  account  from  any  source  that  the 
()j  lb  way  nation,  from  whose  dialect  the  attempt  is  made  to 
define  the  meaning  of  this  w^ord,  ever  inhabited  this  part  of 
the  country.  Mr.  Hurlbut,  in  his  l)ook  of  Chicago  Antiqui- 
ties, refers  to  an  article  in  Potter's  ximerican  Monthly^ 
wherein  it  is  stated  that  in  early  days  this  i)lace  w'as  called 
"  Tuck  Chicago,"  and  in  which  it  is  said  that  ^^Tuck  \\\  the 
Indian  dialect  means  wood  or  timber f*  that  the  word  Chicago 
means  '-ujone,  ahsent^  or  without  f  that  the  words  Tuck  Chicago 
signified  the  \vaste  prairie,  or,  literally  translated,  wood  gone. 
The  Indian  dialect  referred  to,  it  is  understood,  has  reference 
to  that  of  the  Pottawattomies.  It  is  true  that  there  was 
originally  considerable  tree  growth  along  the  river,  particu- 
larly on  the  north  side,  at  what  we  now  call  Chicago,  but  it 
was  in  the  main  a  naked  prairie,  which  would  make  the  name 
"Tuck  Chicago  "  (wood  gone)  in  the  Pottawattomie  dialect 
worthy  of  consideration  among  the  various  other  speculations 
cited  from  their  respective  authorities.  It  will  be  observed 
that  each  of  the  theories  adduced  in  this  article  has  its  author- 
ity, and  from  them  all  the  antiquarian  may  form  his  opinion 
as  to  the  origin  of  the  name  of  the  city  in  question. 

Gkneseo  (Gen-iiis-he-yo) — Irq. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Beau- 
tiful Valley.  The  name  of  a  river  in  New  York,  so  iiained 
by  the  Iroquois  from  the  beautiful  valley  this  river  passes 
through. 

Iroquois. — The  name  of  a  river  and  county  in  Illinois. 
The  word  is  derived  from  the  name  ^ given  by  the  French 
to  the  Five  Nations  of  Indians  about  Lake  Ontario.  The 
first  negotiations  of  the  French  in  settling  the  country  along 
the  River  St.  Lawrence  were  with  the  natives  in  the  vicinity 


INDIAN    NAMES    IN    ILLINOIS.  99 

known  as  the  Five  Nations  and  the  Hurons  or  Wyan- 
dottes,  so  called,  all  speaking  the  same  <;eaeric  language. 
It  was  noticed  that  these  tribes  in  thei.'  councils  always 
closed  their  speeches  with  the  word  or  exclamation  '' Hiro!" 
like  dixi  of  the  Latin.  They  also  nsed  on  public  or  other 
occasions,  when  circumstances  seemed  to  demand  it,  an  ex- 
clamation or  word,  '•  Konai,"  as  an  expression  of  warning, 
something  in  the  sense  we  would  nse  the  word  "Beware!" 
The  frequent  use  of  these  words  or  exclamations,  from  the  cir- 
cumstances attending,  seemed  to  have  attracted  the  s})ecial 
attention  of  the  French,  so  thac  in  speaking  of  them,  cr  in 
giving  them  a  dpsigiiution,  they  spoke  of  them  as  the  Iliro- 
Kouai.,  or,  in  the  French  orthography,  Uiro-Quois,  which  in 
time  passed  into  the  present  word,  h'oquois^  by  simply  drop- 
ping the  sound  of  II  in  common  speech. 

Illinois. — From  the  Algonquin  word  inini,  or  illini,  "man," 
and  French  adjective  termination  ois.  The  French  substituted 
Z  for  n.  From  tradition,  it  was  intended  to  mean  or  have  ref- 
erence to  a  2)erfect  man,  as  distinguished  fr(»m  the  Iroquois 
nation,  who  were  considered  by  the  western  tribes  as  beasts. 
Marquette,  in  descending  the  Mississippi,  touched  on  the  west 
bank  of  that  river  at  a  place  near  the  mouth  of  the  Des 
Moines,  where  he  found  marks  of  inhabitants,  which  he  pur- 
sued westward  a  few  miles,  when  he  arrived  at  an  Indian  village, 
whyre  he  was  received  withdemonstrationsof  great  friendship. 
He  communicated  wnth  the  inhabitants,  it  would  appear,  in  the 
Algonquin  language,  but  as  their  dialect  differed  from  that  of 
any  of  the  tribes  lie  had  before  met  with,  he  asked  the  chief 
who  received  him  who  thev  were.  He  answered  in  the  Ai- 
gonquin  language,  '•  We  are  men,'''''  as  distinguished  from  the 
Iroquois,  whom  they  looked  upon  as  beasts  in  consequence  of 
their  cruel  conduct  in  their  invasions  upon  the  western  tribes. 
Hence  the  term  Inini,  "  man,'"  or  as  the  French  rendered  it, 
Illini.  Thereafter  the  tribes  of  this  vicinity  became  known 
among  the  French  as  Illinese  or  Illinois. 


\  n.vei 


loo  INDIAN    NAMKS    IX    U-LINOLS. 

Kkwanek. — Al(j.—~X  town  in  Illinois.      Prairie  hen. 

Kk^kapoo. — Ahj. — A  town  in  Illinois.  The  name  of  one 
of  the  Algonqnin  tribes  of  the  west,  jestingly  applied  bj 
others  of  the  same  stock.  From  Neyik-abos — an  otter''s  ap- 
parition— (jhost  of  an  otter. 

KisnwAUKK. — Alg. — A  river  in  Illinois.  Place  of  sycamore 
trees. 

Moocasin. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.     A  shoe. 

Manito. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois,  ^nirit.  By  the  early 
French  travelers,  Manitou. 

Mascoutah. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  From  mascoda., 
*'  prairie." 

Moaweqfa. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Weeping  vmnian; 
she  that  weeps. 

MoKENA  (Mok-e-wa) — Alg. —  A  town  in  Illinois.    Turtle. 

Neoga. — Irg. — A  town  in  Illinois.   Place  (fthe  Great  Spirit. 

NoKOMis. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.     Grandmother. 

^UNDA. — h'q. — A  towni  in  Illinois.     Hills. 

Osage. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Miami  dialect.  The 
Neutral.     The  name  of  a  tribe  of  Indians. 

Oquaka. — Alg. — Sac  dialect.  A  town  in  Illinois.  Yellowearth. 

Oswego  {0-Sweh-go) — Irq. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Floimng 
out.  This  name  was  given  by  the  Iroquois  to  the  place  at  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  since  called  by  that  name,  in  the  state  of 
New  York. 

Ottawa. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Trader.  Name  of  a 
triljc  of  Indians  whom  the  French  designated  as  the  traders. 

Peotone  {Pe-tone) — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  Bring — 
hring  here. 

SoMONAUK  [Es-sem-in-auk) — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois. 
Paw  Paw  tree. 

ToNicA. — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.     A  place  inhabited. 

Tuscola. — Apl. — A  town  in  Illinois.     A  level  plain. 

AVapella. — Alg.- — A  town  in  Illinois.  From  an  Indian 
chief  of  the  Fox  tribe.     He  who  is  painted  white. 


INDIAN    NAMKS    IN    ILLINOIS.  1(>I 

Wackegan  i^Wau-l'ue-fjnii) — Alg. — A  town  in  Illinois.  A 
house,  or  y<>rt.  The  place  where  this  town  is  situated  was 
originally  called  Little  Fort.  It  seems  to  have  been  a  French 
trading  p>  st  of  minor  iniportanco — probably  established  about 
the  year  ITli'*,  or  at  some  time  in  the  early  part  of  that  cen- 
tury. The  occasion  of  selecting  this  point  as  a  jxist  seems  to 
have  been  two-fold.  It  was  in  the  vicinitv  of  excellent  hunt- 
ing  and  trapping  grounds,  especially  the  hitter,  and  was  found 
to  be  the  nearest  point  of  any  for  reaching  the  Desplaines 
river  from  Lake  Michigan,  where  in  a  good  stage  of  water  a 
short,  easy  portage  could  be  made  o\\.  the  route  to  the  Illinois 
and  Mississippi  rivers,  saving  about  forty  miles  of  lake  coast, 
necessary  in  going  by  way  of  Chicago.  It  was  continued  as 
a  French  post  until  probably  about  ITCO.  After  the  English 
succeeded  to  the  country  the  point  became  known  as  77<e 
Little  Fort,  and  the  town  subsequently  built  up  here  took  that 
name.  Judge  Blodgett,  now  of  the  United  States  Court,  be- 
coming a  resident  of  the  place,  and  having  a  fancy  for  Indian 
names,  suggested  that  the  name  of  Little  Fort  lie  changed  by 
substituting  an  Indian  name  signifying  the  same  thing.  The 
diminutive  of  nouns  in  the  Algonquin  language  is  formed  by 
addinn^  the  svllable  anse,  so  tlvat  Little  Fort  in  that  lanmiaire 
would  be  Wau-l'i-e-ganse,'  but  for  the  j^urposes  of  euphony 
the  name  adopted  was  Waal'egaii,  which  would  signify  simply 
Fort  or  House.  Although  the  pronunciation  is  not  precisely 
the  same  as  the  Indian  word  intended,  yet  it  is  nearer  to  that 
intended  than  the  eo-called  Indian  names  generally  are.  The 
Indians  designated  a  fort  or  dwelling  of  the  white  man  by  the 
same  name.  The  original  dwellings  of  the  whites  among  them 
were  buildings  for  trading  posts,  built  in  a  style  for  protection, 
and  w'ere  called  foi'ts  by  the  French. 

Wauconda. — Dak. — A  town  in  Illinois.    The  Good  Spirit. 

AYiNETKA.— ^1/r/.- — 2V  town  in  Illinois.     A  heautiful  j^/ace. 

Wyanet. — Ahj. — A  town  in  Illinois.     Beautiful. 


102  CLASSIFICATION. 


CHAPTER   XI, 


INDLVN  TRIBES  OF  ILLINOIS. 

TAKEN    FROM    HISTORIC    NOTES  OP   THE    NORTHWEST 
UY   II.  W.    UECKWITH. 

The  Miamis,  Illinois,  Winnebagos,  Sacs  and  Foxes,  Kicka- 
poos,  Pottawattoniies,  and  Shawneese,  are  the  names  of  the 
native  tribes  wlio  have  occupied  the  soil  of  Illinois  within  the 
historic  period  of  the  state. 

The  Winnebagos  were  of  the  Sioux  stock;  all  the  others 
were  of  the  Algonquin,  their  language  being  similar.  The 
Iroquois  were  essentially  different  in  thf^^r  language  as  well  as 
in  their  public  policy,  being  more  aggressive  and  less  suscep- 
tible to  religious  teaching,  but  perhaps  more  progressive  in 
civilization.  Between  them  and  the  tribes  of  Illinois  there  was 
from  the  first  an  enmity,  which  became  augmented  by  the 
rival  interests  of  the  French  of  Canada  and  the  English  colo- 
nists along  the  Hudson  river.  The  Iroquois,  who  held  all  the 
territory  between  the  Hudson  river  and  Lake  Erie,  were  im- 
portant factors  in  the  hands  of  the  English  wherewith  to 
secure  the  western  fur  trade,  while  the  French  of  Canada  hiid 
advanced  up  the  lakes  to  secure  not  only  the  fur  trade,  but  the 
country  itself  as  a  province  of  France. 

The  Sioux  or  Dakotas  west  of  the  Mississippi  were  an- 
other classification  of  tribes,  and  may  be  set  down  as  the  most 
heroic  of  all,  they  never  having  been  conquered  on  the  field  of 
battle  by  either  other  native  tribes  or  even  by  the  armies  of 
the  United  States,  as  the  fate  of  Custer's  army  in  1879  gives 
melancholy  experience. 


ILLI>(UIS    TKliJKd. 


103 


The  Illinois  Indians  were  composed  of  five  Rubdivisions: 
Kaskaskias,  Cahokias,  Tamaroas,  Peorias  and  Metchigamis, 
the  last  bein*?  a  foreign  tribe  from  west  of  the  Mississippi 
river,  who  having  been  reduced  to  small  numbers  by  wars  with 


Mm 


lUi  ILLINOIS   TKIBES. 

their  nei<^bboro,  abandoned  their  former  hunting  grounds  and 
became  incorporated  Avith  tlie  Illinois.  The  first  historical 
mention  of  the  Illinois  is  found  in  the  "  Jesuit  Ilelations  for 
the  year  1670-1,"  prepared  by  Father  Claude  Dablon,  from 
the  letters  of  priests  stationed  at  LaPointe,  Lake  Superior, 
where  the  French  had  a  trading  post.  Says  the  Father:  "The 
first  who  came  to  the  Pointe  of  the  Holy  Ghost  (meaning  the 
Mission)  for  commerce  called  themselves  Illinois."  In  the 
"  Jesuit  Relations,"  and  in  the  writings  of  other  French 
authors,  the  name  Illinois  is  variously  spelled  as  '"  Illi-mouek," 
''  Ill-i-no-u-es,"  "  Ill-i-ne-wek,"  "  Allini-wek,"  and  "  Lin-i- 
wek."  The  terminations  oties,  wek,  ois,  and  ouek  were  almost 
identical  in  pronunciation.  Lewis  Evans,  the  great  geogra- 
pher in  colonial  days,  spelled  the  name  Will-i-nis.  Major 
Thomas  Forsyth,  for  many  years  trader  and  Indian  agent  in 
the  Illinois  Territory,  and  stationed  at  the  French  village  of 
Peoria,  says  the  "  Illinois  confederation  call  themselves  Linni- 
wek,  and  by  others  they  were  called  Min-ne-way."  Both  Mar- 
quette and  Hennepin  spelled  the  name  Illinois  as  we  do  now. 

The  Illinois  confederation  claimed  the  country  bounded  on 
the  east  by  the  ridge  that  divides  the  waters  flowing  into  the 
Illinois  from  those  flowing  into  the  Wabash,  between  the 
headwaters  of  Saline  creek  and  a  point  as  far  north  on  the 
Illinois  as  the  Desplaines,  reaching  northward  to  the  debatable 
ground  between  themselves,  the  Winnebagos,  the  Sacs  and 
Foxes,  and  the  Kickapoos,  and  extending  westward  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi. Their  favorite  and  most  populous  villages  were  upon 
the  Illinois,  the  Desplaines  and  the  Kankakee,  but  the  Sioux 
(Da-ko-ta)  pressed  them  from  the  west,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes 
and  Kickapoos,  confederates,  encroached  upon  their  territory 
from  the  north,  while  war  parties  of  the  Iroquois,  coming 
from  the  east,  rapidly  decimated  their  numbers.  These  de- 
structive raids  were  doing  their  fatal  work,  and  the  jiower  of 
the  Illinois  was  waning  when  the  French  first  came  in  contact 
with  them. 


ILLINOIS   TRIBES.  105 

The  building  of  fort  St.  Louis  upon  the  heiglits  of  Starved 
Hock  by  La  Salle,  in  lf)82.  gave  confidence  to  the  Illinois  and 
their  scattered  remnants  who  had  again  returned  to  their 
favorite  village.  They  were  followed  ])y  bands  of  Weas,  Pi- 
an-ke-shas,  and  Mi-ain-ies,  near  kinsmen  of  the  Illinois,  and 
by  the  Shawnees  and  other  tril)es  of  remoter  affinity,  and  soon 
a  cordon  of  populous  towns  arose  about  the  fort.  The  mili- 
tary forces  of  these  villages  at  the  colony  of  La  Salle,  in  IfiS-i, 
was  estimated  at  3,680  fighting  men.  th>;^  Illinois  furnishing 
more  than  one-third  of  this  number.  Tlius  were  the  Iroquois 
barred,  out  of  the  country  of  the  Illinois,  who,  for  a  season, 
enjoyed  a  respite  from  their  old  enemies.  The  abandonment 
of  Fort  St.  Louis  as  a  military  post,  in  1702,  was  followed  by 
a  dispersion  of  the  tribes  and  fragments  of  tribes,  exce])t  at 
the  lili..jis  village,  where  a  straggling  }>opulation  retained 
possession.  The  Kaskaskias  learning,  in  the  year  1700,  that 
France  was  making  a  military  establishment  and  colony  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi,  started  thither.  They  were 
intercepted  on  the  way,  and  persuaded  to  halt  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Ohio,  and  soon  thereafter  made  themselves  a  permanent 
home  on  the  banks  of  a  stream  which  since  then  has  borne 
their  name,  the  Kaskaskia. 

The  Iroquois  came  no  more,  having  war  enough  on  their 
hands  nearer  home,  but  the  Illinois  were  constantlv  harrassed 
by  other  enemies,  the  Sacs  and  Foxes,  the  Kickapoos,  and  the 
Pottawattomies.  Their  villages  at  Starved  Rock  and  at  Peoria 
Lake  were  besieged  by  the  Foxes  in  1722,  and  a  detachment 
of  100  men,  commanded  by  Chevalier  d'Artaguiette  and 
Sieur  de  Tisne.  was  sent  from  Fort  Chartres  to  their  assist- 
ance. The  Foxes  having  lost  more  than  a  liundred  of  their 
men,  abandoned  the  siege  before  the  reinforcements  arrived. 
'•This  success  (says  Charlevoix,  the  great  French  historian) 
did  not,  liowever,  prevent  the  Illinois,  although  they  had  lost 
<tnly  twenty  men.  with  some  children,  from  leaving  the  Rock 
and  Pim-i-toey  (Peoria  Lake),  where  they  were  kept  in  con- 


1(K)  MIAMIS. 

stant  alarm,  and  proceeding  to  unite  witli  those  of  their 
brethern  (the  Kaskaskias)  who  had  settled  upon  the  Missis- 
si])pi.  Thi.s  was  a  stroke  of  grace  for  most  of  them,  the  small 
number  of  missionaries  preventing  their  supplying  so  many 
towns  scattered  far  apart;  but,  on  the  other  side,  as  there  was 
nothing  to  cheek  the  raids  of  the  Foxes  along  the  Illinois 
river,  communication  between  Louisiana  and  New  France 
(Canada)  became  much  less  practicable." 

The  next  fifteen  years  show  a  further  decline  in  their  num- 
bers. In  an  enumeration  of  the  Indian  tribes  connected  with 
tlie  government  of  Canada,  prepared  in  the  year  1736,  the 
name,  location,  and  number  of  fighting  men  of  the  Illinois 
are  set  down  as  follows:  "  Mitchigamias,  near  Fort  Chartres, 
25(1;  Kaskaskies,  six  leagues  l)elow,  100;  Feorias,  50;  the 
Cahokias  and  Tamarois,  200 ;"  making  a  total  of  600.  The 
killing  of  Pontiac,  some  thirty  years  later,  at  Cahokia,  whither 
he  had  retired  after  the  failure  of  his  bold  efforts  to  rescue  the 
country  from  the  British,  was  laid  upon  the  Illinois,  a  charge 
which,  whether  true  or  false,  hastened  their  destruction.  In 
an  ofiicial  letter  to  the  secretary  of  war,  of  date  March  22, 
IS  14,  General  Wm.  II.  Harrison  says:  "'When  I  was  first 
appointed  governor  of  the  Indiana  Territory  (May,  1800),  these 
once  powerful  tribes  were  reduced  to  about  30  warriors,  of 
whom  25  were  Kaskaskias,  4  Peorias,  and  a  single  Mitchi- 
gamian.  A  furious  war  between  them  and  the  Sacs  and  Kick- 
apoos  reduced  them  to  that  miserable  remnant  which  had  taken 
refuge  among  the  white  people  in  the  towns  of  Kaskaskiaand 
St.  Geniveve."  Since  1800,  by  successive  treatie;',  they  ceded 
their  lands  to  the  United  States,  and  were  removed  to  reser- 
vations lying  southwest  of  Kansas  City,  where,  in  1872,  they 
had  dwindled  to  40  persons,  men,  women  and  children,  all  told. 

THE    MIAMIS. 

This  tribe  formerly  lived  beyond  the  Mississippi  river, 
whence  their  progress  eastwardly  was  through  Wisconsin  and 


MIAMIS.  107 

Illinois,  and  around  the  southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan to  Detroit,  thence  down  the  Detroit  river  and  up  the 
Mauniee  through  Indiana  into  Ohio.  That  they  ori  nally 
sprang  from  the  same  stock  as  the  Illinois  is  the  or'- i^n  of 
the  early  writers  on  the  subject,  and  General  Ilarnso'  ,  '^^en 
at  his  late  historic  date  says:  "Although  the  languag  ^  anes 
and  customs  of  the  Kaskaskias  nuike  it  sufficiently  certain 
that  they  derive  their  origin  from  the  same  source  with  the 
Miarais,  the  connection  had  been  dissolved  before  the  French 
had  penetrated  to  the  Mississippi. 

The  Miami  confederation  was  subdivided  into  four  princi- 
pal bands,  since  known  under  the  name  of  Miamis,  Eel-Rivers, 
Weas,  and  Piankeshaws.  The  Miamis  proper  have  by  differ- 
ent writers  been  called  "  Ou-mi-a-mi,"  "  Ou-mi-am-wek," 
"  Mau-mees,"  ''  Au-mi-am-i "  (which  has  been  contracted  to 
"  Au-mi  "  and  to  "  0-mee  "),  and  "  Min-e-am-i."  The  Weas, 
whose  name  more  properly  is  ">  We-we-hah,"  is  called  ''  8y-a- 
ta-nous,"  "  Oui-at-a-nons,''  and  "  Ou-i-as  "  by  the  French,  and 
in  whose  orthography  the  ''  8y  "  and  "  Ou  "  are  equivalent  in 
sound  nearly  to  the  letter  of  the  English  W.  The  British  and 
colonial  officers  and  traders  spelled  the  word  "•  Oui-ca-ta-non," 
''  Way-ough-ta-nies,"  ''  Waw-i-ach-tens,"  and  ''  We-hahs." 
The  name  Piankeshaws,  in  early  accounts,  figure  as  "  Pou-an- 
ke-ki-as,"  "  Pe-an-gui-chias,''  "  Pi-an-gui-shaws,"  "  Py-an-ke- 
shaws,"  and  "  Pi-an-qui-shaws."  The  Miann  tribes  were 
known  to  the  Iroquois  of  New  York  as  the  Twigh-twees,  a 
name  generally  used  by  the  British  as  well  as  by  the  Ameri- 
can colon ists  when  referring  to  any  of  the  Miami  tribes. 

In  the  year  1684,  at  La  Salle's  colony  at  Starved  Rock,  the 
Miamis  had  populous  villages,  where  the  Miamis  proper 
counted  1,300,  the  Weas  500,  and  the  Piankeshaw  band  150. 
At  a  later  day,  1718,  the  Weas  had  a  village  "  at  Chic  vgo,  but 
being  afraid  of  the  canoe  people  (the  Chippeways  and  Potta- 
wattomies),  left  it,  and  passing  around  the  head  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan to  be  nearer  their  brethren  farther  to  the  east."     Father 


108 


MI  AMIS. 


Charlevoix,  writing  from  this  vicinity,  in  1721,  says:  "  Fiftv 
years  ago  the  Mianiis  (/..<?,  tlie  Wea  Land)  were  settled  on  the 
southern  extremity  of  Lake  Michigan,  in  a  place  called  CJii- 
ca(jo^  from  the  name  of  a  small  rivor  whicli  runs  intotlu'  lake, 


MA 
snowiN 
IXDIAX 
IN 
ILLINOIS 

ITV  1765 


POTTAWA'fTOMIES.  109 

the  source  of  which  is  not  far  distant  from  tliat  of  the  river  of 
the  Illinois  (meaning  the  Desplaines,  which  is  the  name  by 
which  it  was  often  called  in  French  authorities)." 

The  country  of  the  Miamis  extended  west  to  the  watersned 
between  the  Illinois  and  Wabash  rivers,  which  separated  their 
possessions  from  those  of  their  brethren,  the  Illinois.  On  the 
north  were  the  Pottawattoniies,  who  were  slowly  but  persist- 
ently pushing  their  line  southward  through  Wisconsin  and 
around  the  west  shore  of  Lake  Michigan. 

It  was  only  the  Piankeshaw  band  of  the  Miamis  that  occu- 
pied portions  of  Illinois  subsequent  to  the  dispersion  of  L.i 
Salle's  colony  about  Starved  Ttoek.  The  principal  villages  of  the 
latter  were  upon  the  Yermilion  river  and  at  Vincennes,  Ind.,  and 
its  environs.  Their  territory  extended  eastward  to  the  Ohio 
river  and  westward  to  the  ridije  that  divides  the  waters  Howinjr 
respectively  into  the  Kaskaskia  and  the  Wabash.  They  were 
found  by  French  officers  in  populous  towns  upon  the  Vermilion 
as  early  as  1718;  later  they  pushed  the  degenerating  Illinois 
bands  to  the  vicinity  of  Kaskaskia  and  neighboring  villages, 
and  hunted  and  dominated  over  the  territory  to  the  Mississippi, 
as  high  up,  nearly,  as  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois. 

THE    POTTAWATTOMIES. 

The  first  mention  of  this  tribe  is  in  the  "Jesuit  Relation" 
of  1639.  They  were  then  reported  on  the  north  bank  oi 
Lake  Huron.  Twenty-six  years  later  they  were  reported  on 
the  west  bank  of  Lake  Michigan.  In  1674  they  were  at  Green 
Bay,  and  assisted  Father  Marquette  on  his  way  from  the  mis- 
sion of  St.  Francis  Xavier  at  that  place  to  the  "Chicagou"  port- 
age. Subsequently  we  find  them  in  great  force  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mackinaw,  whence  they  made  large  portions  of  Michigan 
and  also  Wisconsin  their  hunting  grounds.  Later  they  took 
possession  of  the  country  around  Chicago,  and  also  the  im- 
mense plains  lying  in  Illinois  west  of  the  Wabash  river.  It 
was  during  this  period  that  they  made  the  attack  on  the  troops 


110 


POTTAWATTOMIKS. 


who  had  evacuated  Fort  Dearborn  in  1812,  as  told  in  fore- 
going pages.  They  were  the  hist  native  tribe  to  take  their 
departure  from  Illinois,  lingering  around  Chicago  till  1835,  at 
which  time  thev  were  removed  west  hv  Colonel  .J.  B.  F.   Rus- 


SACS    AND    FOXES.  Ill 

Bell,  as  per  the  provisions  .>t"  a  treaty  held  with  them  in  Chicago 
Septeml-^r  26th,  1833.  They  are  now  in  the  Indian  Territory, 
many  of  them  ])eing  wealthy  farniers.  Their  youth  are  edu- 
cated at  good  schools,  and  are  ambitious  to  rise   in  the  world. 

thj:  sacs  and  foxes. 

According  to  Monette  this  tribe  was  early  located  on  the 
Detroit  river,  whence  they  were  driven  to  Green  Bay.  From 
the  latter  place  they  went  to  the  Mississippi  ri/er  and  occu- 
pied the  territory  on  both  sides  o+"  it  above  the  mouth  of  Rock 
river  soon  after  the  year  1700.  In  foregoing  pages  a  brief 
sketch  of  their  history  has  been  given  as  a  record  of  the  Sauk 
war  during  Governor  Reynolds'  administration. 

THE    WINNEBAGOS    AND    SHAWNEES. 

Both  of  these  tribes  have  occupied  small  portions  of  Illi- 
nois for  a  few  years.  Their  history  is  unimportant  in  connec- 
tion with  that  of  Illinois. 

THE    KICKAPOOS. 

The  records  of  this  tribe  run  back  to  the  first  occupation  of 
the  St.  Lawrence  valley  by  the  French,  Champlain  having 
come  in  contact  with  them  on  the  banks  of  Lake  Huron  on 
his  route  of  discovery.  From  that  early  date  ever  since  they 
have  been  an  untractable  tribe,  forming  no  lasting  alliance 
with  the  French  like  many  other  tribes.  They  came  to  the 
Rock  river  prior  to  1718,  says  Charlevoix,  and  in  1765  had 
occupied  the  large  portions  of  the  state  shown  on  the  ma}>  of 
the  Indian  tribes  of  the  same  date.  In  1812  their  hunting 
grounds  had  diminished  but  little  in  size,  but  had  moved  so 
as  to  occupy  the  extreme  southeastern  portions  of  the  state. 
They  ceded  all  their  lands  in  Illinois  to  the  United  States  by 
a  treaty  held  at  Edwardsville  in  1819.  Many  of  them  had 
gone  westward  soon  after  the  war  of  1812,  and  after  this 
treaty  the  remnant  left.  They  are  still  a  brave  people,  h'lng- 
ing  about  the  Mexican  border,  but  greatly  reduced  in  numbers. 


112  FRENCH    OCCUrATlON. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


SETTLEMENT  OF  ILLINOIS. 

UY    .1.    GILLESPIE. 

It  is  difficult  to  draw  u  distinct  line  of  demarcation  between 
the  ditierent  epochs,  that  is  the  French,  the  Pioneer,  and  the 
permanent  settler's.  They  run  into  each  other  and  become  to 
a  considerable  extent  blended,  still  in  order  to  present  a  record 
of  the  early  history  of  this  state,  they  must  be  i*egarded  as 
distinct  eras.  The  object  of  the  settlement  of  the  French  here 
was  two-fold,  one  was,  to  extend  the  theati'e  of  church  opera- 
tions, the  other  was  for  commercial  purposes.  The  first  ad- 
venturers were  Ecclesit  stical  dignitaries,  and  they  located 
missions  wherever  they  went,  Kaskaskia  was  the  centre  of 
their  field  in  this  region.  Afterward  the  government  of  affairs 
was  placed  under  Crozat  and  the  Company  of  the  Indies — to 
subserve  the  commercial  purposes.  The  people  who  were  sent 
out  were  used  as  auxiliaries  to  these  ends.  They  were  located 
in  villages  to  which  were  attached  common  fields  of  several 
miles  extent,  and  each  settler  had  his  strip  or  arpent  of  land  for 
cultivation  which  was  somewhat  like  a  mathematical  line,  all 
lenfjth  and  no  breadth.  The  residences  of  these  settlers  were 
clustered  in  the  village  within  sound  of  the  church  bell  or  the 
violin  of  the  musician.  When  these  communities  became  over- 
crowded a  new  colony  was  established  similar  to  the  first,  and 
so  on.  The  control  of  affairs  was  entirely  in  the  hands  of  the 
ecclesiastics.  All  marriages  were  authorized  and  solemnized  by 
them.  All  entrances  into,  and  exits  from  this  world  were 
under   their  peculiar  supervision.     Conveyances  of  property 


ECCLESIASTICAL    RULE.  113 

and  settlements  of  controversies,  were  noted  Dy  and  effected 
through  their  instrumentality.  Grants  of  land  and  the  regu- 
lations for  their  subdivision  were  ostensibly  made  by  the  King 
of  France.  But  the  real  power  was  in  the  hands  of  the  priest- 
hood, but  it  seems  to  have  been  exercised  bv  them  with  scru- 
pulous  regard  to  justice  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  people. 
These  people  through  the  influence  of  the  church  and  their 
natural  amiability  were  kept  on  good  terms  with  the  Abori- 
gines. They  had  no  amibitiou  to  found  an  empire,  but  were 
willing  to  live  and  die  as  Frenchmen  in  the  service  of  their 
religious  teachers.  They  had  no  desire  for  change.  The 
country  afforded  them  all  they  needed  in  the  way  of  subsist- 
ence, and  their  civil  and  religious  government  was  all  they 
desired,  but  their  hearts  were  in  la  heUe  France.  The  PVench 
colonies  were  mere  municipalities,  and  they  did  iiot  consider 
themselves  as  Americans,  but  as  Frenchmen  residing  on  this 
side  of  the  Atlantic.  This  was  the  first  stage  of  European 
settlement  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  In  1763,  the 
French  possessions  were  ceded  to  England,  but  at  that  time  no 
attempt  had  been  made  to  establish  English  settlements  on  the 
great  river.  During  the  revolutionary  war,  the  expedition  of 
Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark  was  fitted  out  by  Virginia  and 
succeeded  in  wresting  these  French  settlements  from  England. 
The  conquest  of  the  country,  so  far  as  the  French  people  were 
concerned,  was  an  easy  task.  The  English  military  com- 
mandants had  made  tliemselves  exceedingly  obnoxious,  and 
any  change  was  looked  upon  by  the  people  as  for  the  better. 
It  is  true  a  considerable  number  of  the  French  crossed  the 
river  into  Spanish  territory  and  settled  in  St.  Genevieve,  Co- 
rondolet  and  St.  Louis.  The  government  of  Virginia  could 
not  pay  her  troops  in  money  and  she  provided  that  the  soldiers 
under  Clark  should  each  be  entitled  to  a  tract  of  land  in  the 
conquered  country  in  payment  for  their  services.  The  country 
being  rich  beyond  anything  they  had  ever  thought  of,  most  of 
them  settled  here  upon  their  lands,  and  they  were  followed  by 


114  THE    AMEUICAX    SKTTLKK. 

their  ac([uaititances  who  likewise  settled  in  the  country.     Tlie 
troops  under  Clark,  although  in  the  service  of  Virginia,  were 
nevertheless  gathered  up  about  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio  where 
Louisville    ncnv   stands,    and    were    composed   of   Virginians, 
Kentuckians,  Tennesseans,  >Torth  and  South  Carolinians,  and 
the  ])eople  who  followed  them  were  from  those  states.     These 
people  differed  toto  ceolo  from  the  French.     They  considered 
themselves  as  Americans,  and  hardly  knew  that  they  were  de- 
scended from  English  stuck.     They  were  Indian  haters  and 
Indian  fighters,  and  had  fewer  compunctions  of  conscience  fur 
killing  an   Indian  than   they  would  have  for  killing  a   wolf. 
They  were  not  contented  with   a  narrow  strip  of  land  in  a 
common  iield  like  the  Frenchman.     Nothing  less  than  a  big 
farm  isolated  from  neighbors  would  suit  them.     They  cared 
nothing  for  the  protection  or  company  that  villages  afforded, 
each  nuin  generally  depended  upon  himself  and  his  trusty  rifle 
for  protection.     It  is  true  they  assembled  in  squads  to  pursue 
Indian  marauders,  but  generally  they  lived  in  solitude,  except 
their  families;  they  possessed  greater  individuality  than  any 
people  on  earth.     These  American  settlers  recognized  no  au- 
thority but  that  of  law,  and  if  they  were  beyond  its  reach  they 
made  it  for  the  occasion.     They  had  their  regulating  societies 
for  punishing  law  breakers,  before  whom  every  offender  was 
brought  and  duly  charged,  and  no  man  was  punished  without 
having  an  opportunity  of  being  confronted  with  the  witnesses 
against  him,  and  presenting  his  defense,  if  he  had  any.     Gen- 
erally he  had  a  patient  hearing  and   an    impartial    decision. 
These  people  had  no  priests  like  the  French  to  expound  the 
laws,  they  were  natural  ijov^ernment  makers.    Any  one  of  them 
might  be  called  upon  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  one 
of  these  regulating  companies.    As  soon  as  government  was  ex- 
tended over  them  they  settled  down  into  law-abiding  citizens. 
In  1783,  Virginia  ceded  her  rights  in  the  northwestern  terri- 
tory to  the  United  States,  stipulating  for  the  preservation  of 
the  rights  of  the  old  French  inhabitants,  and  of  her  soldiers 


LAND    'IITLES.  115 

iiiKk'r  Clark,  which  the  governiiieiit  scrupulously  carried  out 
and  for  the  purpose  of  inviting  settlers  an  act  of  congress  was 
passed  giving  to  heads  (»f  faniili"s,  who  should  settle  in  the 
country  and  reside  a  certain  length  of  time,  a  tract  of  land. 
When  the  country  was  surveyed  there  were  three  classes  of 
titles  to  lands,  the  location  of  which  was  not  accurately  known 
to-wit:  the  old  French  claims,  then  the  militarv  rin-lits  under 
the  Virginia  regime,  and  lastly  head  rights  under  the 
act  of  congress.  The  government  of  the  United  States  after 
the  survey  of  the  lands  directed  the  land  officers  at  Kaskaskia 
to  take  proof  and  make  report  as  to  the  location  of  the  above 
claims,  and  they  appear  as  clffltas  and  surveyf<  in  our  records 
as  confirmed  l)y  congress  to  the  settlers  or  their  assignees,  and 
are  principally  situated  in  the  counties  of  Madison,  St.  Clair, 
Monroe,  Randolph  and  Peoria.  The  early  American  eui- 
grants  located  generally  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  French 
settlements  which  extended  along  the  river  from  Kaskaski.i  to 
Cahokia,  and  the  big  mound  in  Madison.  The  southern  part 
of  Illinois  was  first  settled  by  tlie  Americans,  as  the  current 
set  in  from  the  southwestern  states.  People  generally  emi- 
grate upon  the  parallel  of  latitude  in  which  they  are  raised  as 
nearly  as  practicable.  The  emigration  from  the  slave  states 
extended  about  as  far  north  as  the  latitude  of  Springfield,  the 
wealthier  going  north  and  the  poorer  keeping  down  south. 
The  Americans  I  have  been  speaking  of  I  would  class  as  the 
Pioneers,  although  a  large  majority  of  them  became  perma- 
nent settlers.  A  great  many  of  these  people  left  the  south  to 
get  rid  of  slavery,  but  many  favored  the  institution  and  wished 
to  see  it  introduced  here.  The  state  could  not  be  admitted 
into  the  Union  with  a  constitution  repugnant  to  the  ordinance 
of  1787,  which  forever  prohibited  it  in  tiie  northwestern  terri- 
tory, but  many  believed  that  after  the  admission  the  constitu- 
tion could  be  changed  and  slaverv  admitted,  and  as  the  settlers 
were  mostly  from  the  south  it  was  thought  a  majority  would 
favor  it.    In  1823,  a  terrific  effort  was  made  to  adopt  a  slavery 


116  ANTI-8LAVEKY    ISSUE. 

constitution,  but  it  was  signally  defeated  by  southern  ])eo])le. 
Here,  in  1823,  the  <j^reat  battle  of  slavery  was  fuui^ht  and  won 
by  pe<jple  from  tlie  slave  states.  If  Illinois  had  then  enllste  1 
under  the  pro-slavery  banner  Indiana  would  have  followed  suit, 
and  these  two  states  (or  even  Illinois)  c»n  the  side  of  the  south 
at  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  would  have  made  the 
result,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  doubtful.  All  honor  to  the  men 
who  defeated  slavery  here  in  1823.  They  builded  more  wisely 
than  they  knew.  About  1830  the  current  of  emigration  began 
to  set  in  from  the  northern  states  to  northern  Illinois.  Since 
then  the  history  is  known  to  all  men,  and  I  need  say  nothing 
about  it.  I  have  endeavored  to  distinguish  the  ejiochs  in  the 
history  of  our  state  into  the  French,  the  Pioneer,  and  the 
permanent — three  distinct  eras  especially  as  to  social  condi- 
tions which  may  with  no  impropriety  be  called  the  childhood, 
the  youth,  and  the  manhood  of  our  state. 


LiiXilbLATLliES.  117 


LEGISLATURES  OF  ILLINOIS. 


First  Territorial  Legislature,  1812.  Convened  at  Kaskaskia  the  25th  day 
of  November,  A.  I).  1812  ;  adjourned  the  26th  day  of  December,  1812. 
Second  session  convened  and  adjourned  November  8,  A.  D.  1813. 

Second  Territorial  Lejrislature,  1814.  First  session  convened  at  Kaskaskia 
the  14th  day  of  November,  A.  D.  1814  ;  adjourned  December  24,  A  D.  1814. 

Second  Territorial  Legislature,  1815.  Second  session  convened  pursu- 
ant to  adjournment  the 4th  day  of  December,  A.  D.  1815  ;  adjourned  Janu- 
ary 11,  A.  D.  1816. 

Third  Territorial  Legislature,  1816-17.  Fir'^t  session  convened  at  Kaskas- 
kia the  2d  day  of  December,  A,  D.  1816  ;  adjourned  Januarj^  14,  A.  D.  1817. 

Third  Territorial  Legislature,  1817-18.  Second  session  convened  at  Kaskas- 
kia the  1st  day  of  December,  A  D.  1817  ;  adjourned  January  12,  A.  D.  1818, 

First  General  Assembly,  1818-20.  First  session  convened  at  Kaski^skia 
October  5,  1818  ;  adjourned  October  13,  1818.  Second  session  convened  at 
Kaskaskia,  -Tanuary  4,  1819  ;  adjourned  March  31,  1819. 

Second  General  Assembly,  1820-22.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  4, 
1820  ;  adjourned  February  15,  1821. 

Third  General  Assembly,  1822-24.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  2, 
1822  ;  adjourned  February  18,  1823. 

Fourth  General  Assembly,  1824-26.  First  session  convened  at  Vandalia 
November  15,  1824  ;  adjourned  January  18,  1825.  Second  session  convened 
at  Vandalia  January  2,  1826  ;  adjourned  January  28,  1826. 

Fifth  General  Assembly,  1826-28.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  4, 
1826  ;  adjourned  February  19,  1827. 

Sixth  General  Assembly,  1828-30.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  1, 
1828  ;  adjourned  January  23, 1829. 

Seventh  General  Assembly,  1830-32.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  6, 
1830;  adjourned  February  16,  1831. 

Eighth  General  Assembly,  1832-34.  Convened  at  Vandalia  December  3, 
1832  ;  adjourned  March  2,  1833. 

Ninth  General  Assembly,  1834-36.  First  session  convened  at  Vandalia 
December  1,  1834  ;  adjourned  February  13, 1835.  Second  session  convened 
at  Vandalia  December  7,  1835  ;  adjourned  January  18,  1836. 


118  LEGISLATURES. 

Tenth  General  Assembly,  1836-38.  First  session  convened  at  Vandalia 
December  5,  1836  ;  adjourned  March  6,  1837.  Second  session  convened  at 
Vandalia  July  10,  1837  :  adjourned  July  22,  1837. 

Eleventh  General  Assembly,  1838-40.  First  session  convened  at  Van- 
dalia December  3,  1838  ;  adjourned  March  4,  1839.  Second  session  con- 
vened at  Springfield  December  9,  1839  ;  adjourned  February  3,  1840. 

Twelfth  General  Assembly,  1840-42.  First  session  convened  at  Spring- 
field November  23,  1840  ;  adjourned  December  5,  1840.  Second  session 
convened  December  7,  1840  ;  adjourned  March  1.  1841. 

Thirteenth  General  Assembly,  1848-44.  Convened  at  Springfield  Decem- 
ber 5,  1842  ;  adjourned  March  6,  1843. 

Fourteenth  General  Assembly,  1844-46.  Convened  at  Springfield  Decem- 
ber 2,  1844  ;  adjourned  March  3,  1845. 

Fifteenth  General  Assembly,  1846-48.  Convened  at  Springfield  Decem- 
ber 7,  1846  ;  adjourned  March  1,  1847. 

Sixteenth  General  Assembl}',  1848-50.  First  session  convened  at  Spring- 
field January  1,  1849 ;  adjourned  February  12,  1849.  Second  session  con- 
vened October  22,  1849  ;  adjourned  November  7,  1849. 

Seventeenth  General  Assembly,  1850-52.  First  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  6,  1851  ;  adjourned  February  17,  1851.  Second  session 
convened  June  7,  1852  ;  adjourned  June  23,  1852. 

Eighteenth  General  Assembly,  1852-54.  First  session  convened  at  Spring- 
field January  3,  1853  ,  adjourned  February  14,  1853.  Second  session  con- 
vened February  9,  1854  ;  adjourned  3Iarch  4,  1854. 

Nineteenth  General  Assembly,  1854-56.  Convened  at  Springfield  January 
1,  1855  ;  adjourned  February  15,  1855. 

Twentieth  General  Assembly,  1856-58.  Convened  at  Springfield  January 
5,  1857  ;  adjourned  February  19,  1857. 

Twenty-first  General  Assembly,  1858-60.  Convened  at  Springfield  Janu- 
ary 3,  1859  ;  adjourned  February  24,  2859 

Twenty-second  General  Assembly,  1860-62.  First  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  7,  1862  ;  adjourned  February  22,  1861.  Second  session 
convened  April  23,  1861  ;  adjourned  May  3,  1861. 

Twenty-third  General  Assembly,  1862-64.  Convened  at  Springfield  Janu- 
ary 5,  1863;  adjourned  February  14,  1863,  till  June  2,  1863;  prorogued  by 
the  Governor  June  10,  2863,  until  December  31,  1864  ;  convened  and  ad- 
journed December  31,  1864. 

Twenty-fourth  General  Assembly,  1864-68.  Convened  at  Springfield 
January  2,  1865  ;  adjourned  February  16,  1865. 

Twenty-fifth  General  Assembly,  1866-68.  First  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  7,  1867  ;  adjourned  February  28,  1867.  Second  session 
convened  June  11,  1867  ;  adjourned  June  13,  1867.  Third  session  convened 
June  14,  1867  ;  adjourned  June  28,  1867. 


LEGISLATURES .  119 

Twenty-sixth  General  Assembly,  1868-70.  Convened  at  Springfield  Janu- 
ary 4,  1869  ;  adjourned  April  20,  1869. 

Twenty-seventh  General  Assembly,  1870-72.  First  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  4,  1871  ;  adjourned  April  17,  1871,  until  November  15, 
1871.  First  special  session  convened  May  24,  1871  ;  adjourned  June  22, 
1871.  Second  special  session  convened  October  13,  1871  ;  adjourned  Octo- 
ber 24,  1871.  Convened  in  regular  adjourned  session  November  15, 1871 ; 
adjourned  sine  die  April  9,  1872. 

Twenty-eighth  General  Assembly,  1873-74.  First  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  8,  1873;  adjourned  May  6,  1873,  until  January  8,  1874. 
Convened  in  adjourned  session  January  8,  1874  ;  adjourned  sine  die  March 
31,  1874. 

Twenty-ninth  General  Assembly,  1874-76.  Convened  at  Springfield 
January  6,  1875  ;  adjourned  sine  die  April  15,  1875. 

Thirtieth  General  J  -emblj",  1876-78.  Convened  at  Springfield  January 
3,  1877  ;  adjourned  May  24,  1877. 

Thirty-first  General  Assembly,  1878-80.  Convened  at  Springfield  January 
8,  1879  ;  adjourned  May  31,  1879. 

Thirty-second  General  Assembly,  1880-82.  Regular  session  convened  at 
Springfield  January  5,  1881 ;  adjourned  May  30,  1881.  Special  session  con- 
vened at  Springfield  March  23,  1882;  adjourned  May  9,  1882. 

Thirty-third  General  Assembly,  1882-84.  Convened  at  Springfield  Janu- 
ary 3,  1833. 


TERRITORIAL    REPRESENTATIVES. 

Shadrach  Bond  was  the  first  delegate  to  Congress  from  the  territory,  serv- 
ing in  the  Twelfth  and  Thirteenth  Congresses.  He  took  his  seat  at  the 
second  session  of  the  Twelfth  Congress,  December  3, 1812,  and  served  until 
October  3,  1814,  when  he  was  appointed  Receiver  of  Public  Moneys.  Resi- 
dence, Kaskaskia. 

Benjamin  Stephenson  succeeded  Bond,  and  took  his  seat  at  the  third  ses- 
sion of  the  Thirteenth  Congress,  November  14,  1814,  and  served  during  the 
third  session  of  the  Thirteenth  and  first  session  ot  the  Fourteenth  Con- 
gresses, when  he  was  also  appointed  Receiver  of  Public  Moneys  April  29, 
1816.     Residence,  Edwardsville 

Nathaniel  Pope  was  elected  the  successor  of  Benjamin  Stephenson,  and 
entered  Congress  at  the  second  session  of  the  Fourteenth  Congress,  Decem- 
ber 2,  1816,  and  served  during  that  session  and  the  first  session  of  the  Fif- 
teenth Congress — he  being  the  delegate  at  the  time  of  the  admission  of  the 
territory  as  a  state.    Residence,  Kaskaskia. 


120 


UNITED    STATES    SENATORS. 


SENATORS. 


Name. 


Ninian  Edwards.., 
Jesse  B.  Thomas. 
Ninian  Edwards. . . 
Jesse  B.  Thomas  . 

John  McLean 

Elias  Kent  Kane.. 
John  McLean 


David  J.  Baker. 


Jchn  M.  Robinson, 
Elias  Kent  Kane... 


JohnM.  Robinson.  18.3.5-41. 
Wm.  L.  D.  Ewing. .  18:i5-.37. 
Rich'd  M.  Young...  ;lK3;-43. 
Sam'l  McRoberts..  1841-43. 


Term  of    j 
service,     i 


1818-19.... 
1818-SJ3.... 
1810-34.... 
1823-29. . . . 
18','4-2.5.... 
18i->-31.... 
1829-30.... 
Nov.  12  to 
Dec.  11, 1830 
ia30-3.5... 
1831-35... 


Sidney  Breese 

James  Semple 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 

James  Shields 

Stephen  A.  Douglas 
Lvman  Trumbull. 
Stephen  A.  Douglas 

Lyman  Trumbull. 
Orville  H.Browning 

Wm.  A.  Richardson 

Richard  Yates 

Lyman  Trumbull.. 

John  A.  Logan 

Richard  J.  Oglesby. 

David  Davis 

John  A.  Logan 

ShelbvM.  Cullom.. 


1843^9. 
1843-47. 

184r-o3. 
1K49-55. 
lS.'i3-.56. 
lS.-).5-61. 
1859-61. 

1861-67. 
1861-63. 


1863-65.. 


1865-71.. 
1867-73.. 
1871-77. . 
1873-79. . 
1877-83.. 
1879-85.. 
188.3-89. . 


Kaskaskia — 

Kaskaskia 

Edwardsville.. 
Edwardsville.. 
Shawneetown. 
Kaskaskia.... 
Shawneetown. 


"Kaskaskia.. 

Canni 

Kaskaskia 


Carmi 

Vandalia . . 
Jonesboro . 
Waterloo . . 


Carlyle . 
Alton . . . 


Quincy 

Springfield 

Chicago 

Belleville... 
Chicago.... 


Chicago 
Quincy  . 


Quincy 


Jacksonville. . 
Chicago 

Chicago 

Decatur 

Bloomington  . 

Chicago 

Springfield  .   . 


Remarks. 


His  own  successor.    Resigned  1824. 
His  own  successor. 
Vice  Edwards,  resigned. 
To  succeed  McLeau. 

Died ,  1830. 

Appointed  by  Gov.  Edwards  to  succeed 

McLean. 
Elected  to  succeed  McLean. 
His  own  successor.     Died  December  12, 

ia3.5. 

His  own  successor. 

Vice  Kane,  deceased. 

To  succeed  Ewing. 

To  succeed  Robinson.      Died  March  22, 

To  succeed  Young. 

Appointed  by  Gov.  Ford  to  succeed 
Mi^Roberts.  deceased. 

To  succeed  Semple. 

To  succeed  Breese. 

His  own  succes.sor. 

To  succeed  Shields. 

His  own  successor.  Died  June  3, 
1861. 

His  own  succf^ssor. 

Appointed  by  Gov.  Yates  to  succeed 
Douglas,  April  26,  1861. 

Elected  to  succeed  Browning  for  unex- 
pired term  of  Douglas. 

To  succeed  Richardson. 

His  own  successor. 

To  succeed  Yates. 

To  succeed  Trumbull. 

To  succeed  Logan. 

To  succeed  Oglesby. 

To  succeed  Davis. 


Each  state,  whether  hirs^e  or  small,  is  represented  in  the  United  States 
Senate  by  two  Senators,  to  be  chosen  by  the  legislature  of  the  states.  The 
term  of  a  Senator  is  six  years. 


NOTES    EXPLAINING    THE    MAP.  121 


NOTES  EXPLAINING  THE  MAP. 


The  route  of  Marquette  and  Joliet  is  a  lieavy  dotted  line 
down  the  Mississippi  river  and  up  the  Illinois  and  Desplaines 
rivers,  thence  to  the  "  Chicagou  "  portage  and  down  the  west 
shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  which  was  at  that  time  called  Lake 
Illinois,  after  the  native  tribes  of  the  country. 

The  route  of  La  Salle  is  a  heavy  dotted  line  down  the  Kan- 
kakee, the  Illinois  and  the  Mississippi  rivers.  The  Illinois 
river  was  first  named  the  Seignelay  river,  after  the  French 
colonial  minister. 

The  old  Peoria  villages  at  the  mouth  of  the  Des  Moines 
river,  Iowa,  are  connected  with  the  Kaskaskia  villages  near 
the  bend  of  the  Illinois  river  by  a  trail.  This  trail  was  put 
on  a  reprint  of  Thevenot's  map,  inserted  in  Spark's  "  History 
of  Marquette  "  and  Joliet's  "  Discoveries  "  as  the  line  of  their 
return,  but  Parkman  claims  that  it  was  an  error,  and  it  is  now 
conceded  by  all  historians  who  have  written  on  the  subject 
that  their  return  was  up  the  Illinois  from  its  mouth,  as  shown 
on  the  map  herewith.  But  the  route  across  the  country, 
though  evidently  not  the  one  traveled  by  the  discoverers,  was 
doubtless  an  old  Indian  path  on  a  direct  line  of  communica- 
tion from  the  Mississippi  to  the  Chicago  portage. 

The  Kaskaskia  and  Detroit  trail  connected  the  two  places 
by  an  overland  route  soon  sifter  white  settlements  had  begun 
at  each.  Detroit  was  settled  in  1701 — one  year  later  than 
Kaskaskia. 

The  trail  of  George  Rogers  Clark  from  Fort  Massac  to 
Kaskaskia  marks  an  epoch  in  American  history  of  transcend- 


122  NOTES    EXPLAINING   THE    MAP. 

ent  import.  It  passed  close  by  the  present  site  of  Marion, 
and  afterwards  became  a  well-frequented  trail  b  tween  Golconda 
and  Kaskaskia,  but  its  route  was  improved  by  Mr.  Worthenin 
1821,  as  shown  on  the  map.  Clark's  route  from  Kaskaskia  to 
Yincennes  the  next  year,  1779,  followed  a  path  through  the 
country  which  had  been  traveled  before  most  of  the  way,  as  a 
connecting  road  between  the  distant  French  settlements  at 
Yincennes,  made  about  1710,  and  the  French  villages  of  Illi- 
nois. 

The  trails  centering  at  Danville  sliow  this  place  to  have 
been  a  great  metropolis  of  the  natives,  especially  in  the  days 
of  Kickapoo  occupation  of  the  country.  One  of  these  trails 
was  made  by  Gurdon  S.  Hubbard  (a  present  well-known  citi- 
zen of  Chicago),  to  facilitate  Indian  trade.  Another  was  made 
by  Mr.  Beckwith  (an  early  settler  at  I^anville)  for  a  similar 
purpose. 

Governor  Edwards'  rovte  from  Camp  Russell  to  the  vicin- 
itv  of  Peoria  was  the  line  of  his  invasion  of  the  Indian 
country  in  1812. 

The  route  of  Hopkins,  leading  from  Fort  Harrison,  on  the 
Wabash,  into  Livingston  county,  was  also  a  raid  into  the  In- 
dian country  at  the  same  date. 

General  Howard'' s  route  the  next  year,  1813,  from  Camp 
Russell  up  the  Mississippi  to  the  present  site  of  Nauvoo, 
thence  east  to  the  Illinois  river,  and  up  its  west  bank  to  Peoria 
and  Gomos  village,  also  shows  a  track  of  invasion  into  the 
Indian  country. 

The  Fort  Clark  and  Wahash  trail  was  a  well-traveled  road 
from  the  settlements  of  Southern  Ohio  and  Indiana  to  Fort 
Clark  in  the  early  day. 

The  Sauk  trail,  leading  from  Rock  Island  eastwardly 
through  the  state,  was  the  path  of  the  Sauks  and  Foxes  from 
their  great  village  on  the  Mississippi  to  Maiden,  in  Canada,  to 
which  place  the  whole  tribe  went  every  year  to  get  their  an- 
nuities from  the  English  government.     Portions  of  it  are  still 


NOTES   EXPLAINING    THE    MAP  123 

visible  on  the  prairies,  says  Mr.  C.  C.  P.  Holden,   of  Chi- 
cago, who  lias  assisted  the  author  in  locating  it. 

James  Watson  WebVs  line  of  travel  from  Fort  Dearborn, 
in  1822,  to  La  Sallier's  trading  post,  thence  to  the  Mississippi' 
and  down  it  to  Fort  Armstrong  on  Kock  Island,  is  a  monu- 
ment of  the  courage  and  hardihood  of  this  young  man,  who 
was  then  an  officer  in  Fort  Dearborn.  He  made  this  trip 
alone,  in  the  dead  of  winter,  to  warn  the  garrison  against  an 
Indian  surprise,  and  this  saved  the  fort.  On  his  return,  as  a 
prudential  measure,  he  took  a  more  southern  route,  as  shown 
in  the  map.* 

Kellogg' s  trail  shows  the  first  overland  route  from  Peoria 

to    Galena.     It   was    made   by  Mr.   Kellogg,  an  old  pioneer 

settler,  in  1825,  and  subsequently  became  a  well-known  route. 

BUich   Hawk's  advance   is  a  dotted  line  up   Eock  river, 

which  terminated  in  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832. 

Seotfs  army  trail  from  Fort  Dearborn  to  the  Winnebago 
village  where  Rock  river  crosses  the  Wisconsin  line,  thence 
down  the  river  to  Eock  Island,  was  the  route  of  his  army  who 
came  to  Illinois  to  defend  the  settlers  from  the  hostile  Sauks, 
of  whom  Black  Hawk  was  chief 

The  foregoing  trails  show  the  first  known  lines  of  travel  in 
the  state.  The  early  roads  made  by  the  settler  are  shown  by 
two  parallel  lines  connecting  the  chief  towns  of  the  early  day. 
The  early  points  settled  are  located  and  dotted,  making  no 
further  explanation  necessary. 

The  Tablet  of  Illinois  History  begins  in  a  decade,  the 
first  part  of  which  was  pre-historic  as  to  Illinois.  The 
Tablet  runs  through  the  last  part  of  the  seventeenth  cen- 
tury, through  the  eighteenth  entire,  and  as  far  as  time  has 
advanced  in  the  nineteenth,  showing  a  chronological  cliain 
of  events  in  and  allied  to  Illinois  history  subdivided  into 
decades. 

*Mr.  Webb  is  still  living  in  New  York,  and  it  is  from  his  own  letters  to 
me  writer  that  the  above  facts  have  been  obtained. 


-^^^  NOTES    EXPLAINING    THE    MAP. 

The  progress  of  settlements  in  Illinois  is  shown  in  a  small 
map  m  the  margin,  by  summarizingperiods  of  time  respecting 
the  settlement  of  various  localities  in  the  state. 

The  Book  is  a  detail  of  not  only  the  historical  illustrations 
of  the  maps,  but  a  detail  of  what  grew  out  of  the  events  thus 
localized  and  dated.  The  two  together  are  designed  to  brin^ 
geography  and  chronology  to  the  support  of  history 


INDEX. 


125 


INDEX. 


Anti-Slavery  Issue 59-115-116 

Alexander,  Gen.  Milton  K 65 

Alsjjonquin,   meaning  of  name. . .  93 

Aloiiez  Claude 27 

Appanoose,  meaning  of  the  name.  93 
Ashkum,  meaning  of  the  name. .  93 

Atkinson  General 65 

Attorney  General,  duties  of 80 

Aranda,"  Count  de 44 

Auditor  of  State,  duties  of 80 

Beveridge,  John  L.,  Governor. .  74 

Birney,  James  G 68 

Bissell,    Wm.    H.,   elected  Gov- 
ernor   71 

Black  Hawk  defeats  Taylor 56 

Leaves  Lis  Village 61 

Returns  to  Illinois 61 

Defeats  Stillman 63 

Attacks  Apple  River 64 

Is  Defeated  at  Bad  Ax 65 

Sent  to  Fortress  Monroe 66 

Restored  to  his  Tribe 66 

Black  Partridge  saves  Mrs.  Helm  53 
Bond  Shadrach  settles  in  Illinois  45 

First  Governor . .  57 

Boundary  line  between  French 

and  English 30 

Brady,  General 65 

British  withdraw  from  the  Lake 
Country 56 

Cahokia 27 

Taken  by  Clark 41 

Carlin,    Thomas,    elected     Gov- 
ernor   67 

Camp  Russell 55 

Casey,  Zadoc 60-66 

Cartier,  Jacques 10 

Cayuga,  meaning  of  the  name. . .  93 
Cliebanse.  meaning  of  the  name..  93 

Chartres  Fort  built 28 

Seat  of  English  Government  .  36 
Chemung,  meaning  of  the  name. .  93 


Chicago  surveyed 90 

Chartered  as  a  City 90 

Great  Fire  vJ 90 

Meaning  of  tlie  name 93 

(See  Dearborn  Ft.  for  early  history. ) 

City  Officers S'i 

Champlin,  Samuel  de *.  11 

Clark  Fort  built 55 

Clark,    George   R.,    takes    Kas- 

kaskia 39 

Advances  on  Vincennes 42 

His  route  in  Ilhnois 121 

Coles,  Edward»  elected  Governor  58 
His  etforts  to  make  Illinois  a 

Free   State 59 

Commercial      rivalry      between 

French  and  English 33 

Commerce  of  Illinois 84 

Constitution  of  Illinois  formed. .  57 
Constitutional  Conventions. .  .70-73 
Convention  and  adjournment  of 

Legislatures 117 

Continental  Congress 38 

Crogan,Geo.  ...^ 33 

Taken  prisoner 34 

Reports  to  Sir  Wm.  Johnson. .  35 

County  Officers 82 

Cnmmings,  Colonel 65 

Craig,  Captain,  takes  Peoria 54 

Cullom.  Shelby  M.,  elected  Gov- 
ernor   74 

Danville — Trails  centering  at. .  .122 

Dearborn  Fort  built 89 

Massacre  at 89 

Rebuilt 90 

Detroit  besieged  by  Pontiac 31 

General  Hull  sent  to 51 

Dongan,  Governor  of  New  York.  25 
Duncan,    Joseph,    elected    Gov- 
ernor of  Illinois 66 

Dunmore,   Lrrd 37 

Douglas,  Stephen  A 71 

Earthquake  of  1811 94 


126 


INDEX. 


Edwards.  Ninian,   Governor   of 

Illinois  Territory 48-59 

Invades  the  Indian  coutttry. . .  54 
Elected  Governor  of  the  State.  59 

His  route  of  invasion 122 

Edwardsville 53 

En -^lish  Colonies 29 

Ens^lish  Indian  Assents 38 

English  posssssion  of  Illinois. . .  31 

Elections 76 

Emigration  first  to  Illinois 115 

Executive  Department 78 

How  constituted 79 

Duties  of 79 

Ewing,  L.  D.,  Governor 66 

Fort  Clark  and  Wabash  trail 122 

Frazier,  Major 33 

Becomes  Governor  of  Illinois.  35 

French  and  Indian  war 30 

French,    Augustus    C,    elected 

Governor - 70 

French  Missionaries 11 

Frontenac,  Governor  of  Canada.  11 
Five  Nations.    (See  Iroquois.) 
Ford,  Thomas,  elected  Governor.  68 
Forsythe  redeems  Indian  captives  53 

Fort  Creve  Cceur 20 

Fur  trade 25 

Gage,  Fort B9 

Gage,  General,  his  proclamation  35 

Gaines,  General 61 

General  Assembly  of  Illinois 77 

Geneseo,  meaning  of  its  name. .  98 

Ghent,  Negotiations  at 56 

Gibault.  M  40 

Gomas  Village  destroyed 59 

Government,  Powers  of 76 

Governor  Clark  takes  Prairie  du 

Chien 56 

Governor,  Duties  of 79 

Gravier,  .Tames 27 

Green  Bay,  Mission  at 12 

Griffin,  the 1^ 

Hamilton,  Henry  surrenders  Vin- 

cennes  to  Clark 43 

Hamilton,  John  M.,  Governor. . .  75 
Harrison,  Wm.  Henry,  Governor 

of  Indiana  Territory 47 

Appointed  to  the  command  of 

th<'  Northwest 53 

Helm,  Captain 41-42 

Helm,  Mrs.,  at  the  Chicago  Mas- 
sacre  53 

Henry.  James  D 65 

Hopkins,  Gen.,  marches  against 
the  Indians 53 


Howard,   General,  his  route  of 
invasion 122 

Hull,  General,  sent  io  Detroit.  ..  51 
Sends  orders  to  Fort  Dearborn  53 

Illinois,  Settlement  of 45-112 

Il.inois  Territory  organized 48 

Illinois,  meaning  of  its  name....  99 
Illinois  admitted  in  the  Union. . .  57 

Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal 68 

Illinois  Tribes 13 

Illinois  Tribes,  their  history 103 

Immaculate     Conception,     mis- 
sion of 16-27 

Indian  Department  of  Illinois..  38 

Indian  Names  of  Illinois 93 

Indiana  Territory 47 

Institutions,    charitable,    penal, 

etc.,  enumerated 74 

Iroquois  Tribes 21-25 

Iroquoi.s,   Derivation       of      the 
name 98 

Jamestown 9 

Johnson,  Sir  William 33 

Joliet  (See  Marquette.) 

Judicial  Department 81 

Kaskaskia 14-27-39-40-44 

Kaskaskia  under  English  rule. . .  1 12 

Kaskaskia  and  Detroit  trail 121 

Kellogg's  trail 123 

Kewanee,  meaning  of  its  name.  .100 

Keokuk 60 

Kickapoos,  their  history Ill 

Kickapoo,  meaning  of  the  name. .  100 
Kishwaukee,    meaning    of    the 

name 100 

Kidd,  Robert 45 

La  Barre,  Governor  of  Canada. .  25 

La  Fayette  in  Illinois 59 

Land  ih\e^,  French 115 

La  Salle,  his  route  of  discoverv.  .121 
(See   Griffin.) 

Legislative  Department 76 

Powers  and  duties  of     77 

Restriction  of 78 

Lieutenant  Governor,  duties  of . .  79 

Lincoln,  Abraham 71 

Death  of 73 

Loftus,  Major _. .. .  32 

Louisiana  purchased  by  Spain. .  84 

Manito,  meaning  of  the  name. .  .100 

Map  of  native  trib  s,  1684 103 

Map  of  native  tribes,  1765 108 

Map  of  native  tribes,  1812 110 


INDEX. 


127 


Massac  Fort -^9 

Massacrt!  at  (Uiicaj^o 53 

MarqiK'ttu  iuulj  oliet  discover  the 

Mississippi 1; 

Discover  Cliicago !•) 

Marquette  winters  at  Chicairo.  . .   1(5 
Founds  mission  oil  the  Illinois.   IG 

His  dea  h • !« 

Discovery  of  his  remains 18 

Marquette  and  Joliet's  route I'-l 

Mascoutah  meanintrof  thename.  100 
Matteson,  Joel  A.,   elected  Gov-  ^ 

ernor "0 

Menard,   Pierre 37 

Miamis,  their  history  106 

Michigan  Territory 48 

Mexican  War 69 

Moawequa,     meaning     of     the 

name 1>^ 

Mokena,  meaning  of  the  name.  .100 

Moore,  John 68 

Morgan.  Oolonel  Geo 38 

Mississippi  river  made    western 

boundary 44 

Its  navigation  closed  by  Spain.  85 
Moccasin,  meaning  of  the  name. .  100 

Montbrun,  Timothy 45 

Mormons,  the 69 

Native  Tribes  classiffed 102 

Neoga,  meaning  of  the  name. .  .100 

N  w  Design  settlement 45 

Nokomis,  meaning  of  the  name.  .100 

Northern  C  oss  Railroad 68 

Nunda,  meaning  of  the  name..  .100 

Oglesb}',  Kichard  J. ,  elected  Gov- 
ernor  73 

Ohio  Company 29 

Oquaka,  meaning  of  the  name..  .100 
Osage,  meaning  of  the  name.. .  .100 
Oswego,  meaning  of  its  name. .  .100 
Ottawa,  derivation  of  its  name . . .  100 

Palmer,  John  M.,   elected  Gov- 
ernor  78 

Peace  of  Paris 43 

Peoria  taken  by  Craig 55 

Pootone,  meaning  of  the  name.  .100 

Perry,  Comiiiodore 56 

Pinet,  Francis 27 

Pioneers,  American 114 

Pittsburg 29 

Pontiac 31-32-34 

Portage  at  Chicago 19 

Portage  at  St.  Joseph 20 


Pope,  Nathaniel 57 

Pottawattomics,  their  history.  ..109 

Posey.  Alexanilcr 65 

Public  Land  Surveys 46 

Quebec  Bill 36-44 

Railroads,  pioneer 86 

Renault,  Philip  Francis 58 

Representatives,  Territorial 119 

Reynohls,  John,  electeddovernor  67 

Rocheblave,  Governor 30 

Rogers,  John 42 

Roijrers,  >iajor  Robert 30 

Ru<sell,  Colonel 53 

Rutherford,  Larkin 45 

Sacs  and  Foxes,  tlieir  historv.  .  .  .111 

Sackville,  Fort 43 

Sauk  trail 122 

Schools,  law  for  supi)ort  of 71 

Scott,  General  Winfield 63-66 

Trail  of  his  army 123 

Secretary  of  Stated  duties  of.  . .  .  80 

Senators,  U.  S 120 

Settlements 124 

Shawneese,  the Ill 

Somonauk,     meaning     of      the 

name 100 

8t.  Anire 32-;34-;}6 

St.  Louis,  Fort 24 

St.  Clair,  Arthur 47 

St.  Clair,  first  county  in  Illinois.  47 

Shabena 63 

Sholby,  Governor  of  Kentucky.  53 

Slaves  in  Illinois 58 

State  Bank  chartered 67 

State  Board  of  Equalization.  ...  81 
State  internal  improvements.  ...  67 

Starved  Rock 24 

Sterling,  Captain 35 

Street,  General 65 

Superintendent    of    Public     In- 
struction      80 

Tablet  of  History 123 

Tamaroa.  mission  at 27 

Tiylor,  Z  ,  repulsed 56 

Tenure  of  office 8l 

Thevenot's  map 18 

Thomas,  Jesse  B 57 

Tippecanoe,  battle  of 50 

Todd,  John,  Governor  of  Illinois  44 

Tonty 19-21-23-24 

Tonica,  meaning  of  the  name. . .  100 

Township  officers 82 

Truink  lines  of  railroad 88 

Tuscola,  meaning  of  the  name. . .  100 


128 


INDKX. 


Vandalia 58 

y i:,^o,   Fraiifis ' '     40 

ViiHoniK's 41-48 

Viririnia  cedes  Ihe  Northwest  to 
tlie  United  States 46 

War  of  1812 50 

U'asliin^^ton   l)roth('rs . .  * .   2!» 

Wapella,  meauin-r  of  the  name'.  100 
n  aiiconda,     meaniiiif      of      the 

Jiiinie ^ 101 

Wells.  Captain 53 

Washburue,  E.  B "7! 


Waukegan— Derivation     of     its 
Name iqi 

Western  posts  retained 5| 

»V  ebb,  James  Watson 123 

Wilkins,    Colonel,    Governor  of  " 

Illinois.    3Q 

Whiteside,  General. . '.  . ." .' .'..'.""  64 

\\  inncmac " '"  52 

Winii(bai:os,  the '[  ..  AU 

Winetka,  meaninf^of  its  name.  .101 

\V  omen  elij^ible  to  office S3 

Wyanet,  meaning  of  the  name. . .  101 


t<:\ 


--•TABLET-;— 


luLiNuis    History 


1670  ]>;:,>  I'liK  iii>r(M{ic 

UiTl 

u;;-.' _ 

1i;T:I  Mis,«i>-i[ipi  HiviT  Di-roviTcil. 

ItiTt  M.-ir.iii'tli-  W  int.  r^  :il  Oiii-i!.'" 

1«7.")  Miinintttc  I)ir.l. 

liiTti  Xi.  Mis>i.>niirii>  in  Illinnis 

li;7T  All. .111  /  Caiii'   til  Illinois. 

MT--  1.11  Siilli  111  llir  Niai:nrii. 

U'.T'.i  1.11  Siilli-  m  St.  .1..-.  I'll  Uiv.  r. 


\^2 


1680   lUsii  Lu  SiiUi' . .11  the  Illinois  Rivir. 

Irt-!  'r..nt>  ill  (•..niniunil  of  tin'  Illiiuii.s. 

I'W','  l.:\  >:\Ui-  at  tlir  M.mtli  of  tin-  Mississippi. 

lti.-:i  LiiSall..  Hiiuriii'.l  lo  Frunri-. 

111-4  I.n  Sail.- S:ii!..l  f,.r  Iho  Mi"is>i|.pi. 

lii'-"i  DnraiUayr  in  ('..innian.l  .f  F. .rt  at  Chir.^tr. 

n;-ii  Toiity  liiiilt  a  Fort  on  Uiv  .Vrkausiis. 

U'.-T  l.a  Sail.'  .V— a>inaii  il  in  Ti  xa-. 

li;-s  Ciivi  1  .  r  U.'iini^  t..  Illinois. 

lO-'.i  Kr.  11.  li  aii.l  Kimlisli  War  ..n  tin-  FrontiiT. 


l:.*^ 


:-: 


1690    ii-.'.io  Faili.  rCliiud.' Alou.-7.  Di.il. 

I'l'.M  Ir...|ii.'i-  Inviiilo  Canada. 

Hi'.!-'  Kath.  1  Ha-li   in  ri!ir...is. 

li't'.i'.i  Fatii.  r 'iraviir  in  Illiii.'i-. 

li'.'.M  (.'ontiiiin^    tlif     Mi":..n     of     tli.^     Inimatulat. 
Iti'.i.".  (  ..11.  ii.ii..n   on   ill.-   'iliii'.i-   UVr 

lillii;  Mi.-iuiiarv  Station- on  I|.'    raluim  t. 

lil'.i;  Man  -I  -  Mi-loll  at  I't-oria. 

Ill;'"  n.i  iv'il.' >aii- fr.in  Franii'.    ^, 

U\w  .\.ru.  -  at  Ml.   Mi.iith  .if  111.    Sli"i— ippi. 

1700   '.Too  K  ,-k,,-kia  >.;'i.'.l  !.v   Kaili.  I  Finn 

IToi  li.  ;p.i!  F..ir.  i.'i  Li  i  a.iilai 

ITo-.'  W.ii  H.  :«..  11  Fr  i!...-  iii.'l  l.i.L-ian.! 

i;o:;  Kr,  1,1  I.  S,i!l.   ,.!,  !;..!  liix.r 

i;ol  i;i,  iiMl!.    l„,v.  rii.  r  .f  l..iii-i,iiia. 

ITo.-,  Mi--.nii   Kiv,  r  E\i.'..!..l    l'>    ilir    Fo  :■.  i,. 


I7o7  i.o   ,1  -.-.ir:  i!>  ■■•:   F 1 

l7o-  1)  A   ■  a-m  li'   ii!  i."'iio  .iia 

;7"i'  N.  .■-;'.iii..li.iii.!  Ait   .  lo-l  i.y  ilo    Fr.  ii.  Ii 

1710     I'."  .,;:.' no. ->■ -la 'I   ''■•   Kiili'i    M' rn,.-' 

:7!i  1 1  Aii.i-'ii.'i.   (I..'..  :"..!-•  f  l..'iii-iina 

'71.'  L.iii-i.ii.a  liraiio  .1  ■"  1  r-  /  ii 

;:i.;  A.  .".la  I  .  '1.  '1  '"  Kiiji  iii'l 

IT!  1  Ft.  I.,  n  A.lv.ii'  '   t.,  'h.    Uii'  i.raa.lo. 

i71-.  l...u;-  XIV  l>i.   1. 
17;i-.     V\v  Fi.i,.li   in  T.  \a- 

!7!  :  l.,iu  -    M  --l--i|.|.i   I   ■■liil'al.v     F'iriia.i 

17  w  ^.  „  .1.-1.  ,:;-  l..i.i  O... 

|!:V3  171;'  1  .in.p  on  •■!' ill.-  Iii.li.  ■  F'.rni.  .1 

1720    I  T-'o  :.iMi  >   r. .  -  r.r.iiulii  lo  111''  lUiiii.i- 1  .I'lmri 

1 7'Jl  I  l.arl.  v..i\  in  Illiii'.i- 

;  .--'J  Fir-i   '.rant  <■;    I..iii'i   in  llilii..i- 

I7-.'.1  N.  «  iir!.  all-Ill'    (    ipii,.l  ..f  I..  Ui-i,iiia 
1  ;jl    Faiiiii''  •■(  l.au  -  S.  Ii.  in.'- 
IT-.:"'    l.a"  -  I  iirr.  in  \   \"alii.|.-- 
IT.'i'.    M    I'l  rin  I  ii.'M  i-i.or  "f  l.'.iii-iaiKi 
ITJT    .\_'ii.  uliun    H.  VIM  -  in  Hill;..!- 
iT-'s     111..  ..111.  Ill  ..!  ill.    I  111.  ka-au  - 
IT.'li    M-,-a. -o-  ..I    Fr.  ii.  Ii   .1  N  III  III  / 


Irs*" 


1730   iT:;ii  111.    Fr.  1.  Ii  .\oa.  k  III.    Nai.  h'/. 

1  T::I  Th.     War   I   ..iilllilp-.l 

!7:!-'  Ill'     Nal    h'  /    1'.  -•1">"1 

17:«  I  ..11. pain  .,f  III.'  lii.li.--  1{. -i_'ii  111.  ir  (  iiarti-r, 

['  .  .\  I    .mil.  t    l..i\v..ii    'ii'     Enuli-li    (  iiloiiist-   of 

,'"''  li.  ..ri;ia     ami     (  aroliii.i     aii.l     tin-     Fnni  li 

'••'''■  ..f      |,..iii.iana     I-     .  arm  .1     ..ii     l.v     llie     anl 

1T;'.7  .r     In.liaii    Till..-    ai..iiL'    iln     .Mis-i-sippi, 

-;,  •:  al-    ■  .■    ;•-    i-iM-oi I  in  ■.'.•-•  .11-  III  I    |"a.'' 


.  .  I.IAX  ■ 

DUBUQUE  X.  4 


^d»^1k   J     O      I>    A  J^   I     K     S 

Xr,     *l7^  X1S1>7 


''      «+    \l\  .VPFl  I.  KlVElf^ 

koi:t  ( iMJi 


DEMENT- 


^r^cy'^^ 


!Sa: 


ENA 


.        *#     C     A     I 


MAP 

sifw-No  nil  rii'.oi: 

si;tti.i:mi;nts 

illinois 


4 

0 


TAYLOR  REeULSEO.J^' 


ROCK  ISLAND^?.;^^   s«  J^,^ 


aC*'  HawV. 


camp    M a rch, !.?^2ft' ^  i 

.,  ^'''"-"* 

\V  "liny 


\ 


BURLINGTON  <^l' 


roRl   M  UlISON 


1818 


M  <       H     E     X     R    1 

WOODSTOCK  ?  S36 


R 


Military 


Y 


\ 


FOKT 


MORRIS 


.#J»J> 


y 


.'v- 


IBRIDGE 


IxiMl 


^ERi[o  ^^y-N'i^^^^-^ij^^L^cfe  j/^*^3.r-<f 


ebl)        1822 


I 


\ 


no  u/ 1^30 


^1 

J 1^  HEXNEPIX 

V    V     l\\    A    M    . 

I  •  JSL».-, 


r     A      It/S      11      A      L 


"■LACON  1S29 


lisslort  1687 

/METAMOR^ 


1811 


^ 


1841 


-/ 


BASE   LINE 


2^ 


S24 


cr 


; 


O    /R      D 


.J 


I 


./ 


'  \\      7.9r5 


L    I    \  \i\,  >    (;    s     r    o    \ 

-^^ONTIAC 
,  I  \  \1837 


I 


Kic 


kt>P«= 


K,//iii/i     1 


1x1' 


^ 


t-'       LITTLE 


EFOrix  woo    i^  ->>iu,:,,,.a^/,  / 

NaiTif  ijliunuril  to  -y^ls 


;nry   1S30  "^  w  /i'^v.i\wm( 


Half  Days  Village  ^ 


Turnel  Mar.25  1867     -^ 

lVj:\KBOK\  1S04  '-r^ 

etfciJoliet  1673  T;*! 

n  Massacre  ^*^    ,   i| 


\ 


j.jl  P.  .1.1    K.M.MT.l  MM,1   Tr..lr  Hc^uninl    liitwrcu 
'    ,  ^  I'll   llliimi-  ('.HiiJliv  :ijiil  N'l  «  drlfuii-. 

ni^l  Avriciillun'  iiti  ilif  Im-ri'asr 

ITtI  l!,,T,l,r  W.ir  liilnciii  (  iiiiaila  and  W  w  En.L'latiil. 

IT).-,  4.IHIII  Sa.kM.f  Klciir  Sl,i|,|„.l  fn.m  Illiiio.v 

j  I744i  War  in   X,,va  Sn.iia   lit'w,  (  n  thi-  Fn  ii.  Ii  ami 
I  l"t"  Ein:li>li  ('.■IdiijsN. 

I  l'i>  'rill'  I  iliici  Conipany  K.iriiii  li. 

IT4H  Fntu  li  Claiiii  tin-  Tpixr  Ohin. 


*J 


fj^- 


[i^-:^ 


e:- 


5*3 


1750    1 :,-.!.    Dr    Walk,  r  Kxplnr,  >  K,  nnuky. 
I  IT")I    Kiu'li-h  Traill  r.«  i.n  tin-  ( )|iii.. 
IT.'i:.'    Til.-  KriMih  I'rivr  thi  in  I  liil 

iiiiriiiri^TililHi  Iii^Lih)  ilntlfoug^  'fii^ 

17-Vl  \Va>liin:rtiiii  SumniliT^  Fort  Nrcesisily. 

:T.m  lira.l.io.k^  Dif.at. 

lT."ili  War  I>rilar.ii  lirlworn  Franrr  ami  Knirlanil 

IT.'iT  I'i'i   UiMiinii'>  rri'Miur  of  Kii^'land. 

lT."i>  Kn  TH  li  KvaiU'li   Furl  l>iiqiii>nf. 

17-'i!l  Wulfc  Tak.  >  Qui  I. IT 


llv_.^ I 


I  ^'♦^-^Do^N  o  ran  .. 

--^'                  I                       ^^.  MACOMB  isrs  I'  V  ( 

CARTHAGE  '                               T^^                     ^  ^ 

I      1  ^     '  N. 


^A/fOIM  JOHNS 

;!i«jij'ii>j!kB.4''^p''  ".^  ■■,;  • .  .J  !'!|iii  tm 


1760   ITrti  Til.    Fnn.li   \  iii.i  Cana.la 

I  ITCil  Thi-  F;ni:lisli  at   Uitruit. 

;  ITfi-'  Tirriii-ry  Wi-t  of  Mi^-U-ippj  leiiiil  to  Spain 

I  \'f<\  Tr.aiy  of  Pari-  Si.-M,  il 

!  17fi4  SI.  I.oui;.  Foiinilfil. 

I  17fi.-.  ?;ni'li-h  Tak.'  Pris-(->i..n  of  Iliin.ii- 

I  I"*^"  (  ol.    l{i-,,i    in    Kn-li-li    Coninian.i    ..f    Illinois 
17ti7  II.  ailijinirii  rs  ai  Fort  I'liarir. -. 

'"'■>'•  Kn-li-h   (  ..nri-    i  >r!:ani/iil   t..  l.i-  Ir.  ,|  at    Ka- 
I7ii'.i  ka>kia. 

1770    KTo  \\a-llini:l..!l  \i-il      tin    W,  -t. 

1771  l!,i!  |.-  of  Aiiniainr. 

177-'  liriii-li  \'.».  1-  liiirinil  at   Nnvpori 

;  .--^  I),-trniIio  1  ..f  Tia  at  Hiwt.m  ll.irl.or 

I  ,„,  ^^lllll^  liii;  I'iKMil  Makm."  tin    i  Hi  ..  liiv,  r  lin- 
I  '•'■'i  S.niiln  rn  l.in.'  of  (  ainma 

I  177."i  'alalia  I    \  a.l.  ■!  I.y  tliu  .\n;.rn  an-. 

I  1771!  I'l'i  laraM.'i:  of  Inil.  pi  ml.  lu  i . 

i  1777  '  '"■'>'   s.  n.l-  Spii  -  to  tin   Illiimi-  (  oiintry. 

177"-  <  onipn -t  "f  Illinoi-  i.y  <  larkr. 

17711  Cliiikf  lak.  -  \'inri  iini  5 

i780   l>ii  C.il.  .lolni  T.iilil  Military  i  ...v.-rm.r  of  Illinois. 

,-^  Tin.  SpaiM-li  .M.,r.  h  Air—  Ill.iioi*  ami  Tak.  st 
■■    '  Jo-.  |.|i 

j  K"-.'  -1  !;l.ini-ni  of  Ni  w  |), -i-n  in  Illinois. 

.^.,  i'.aii-     w.th    Knirlan.l    with    ila-    \Ii-,i-,i,,|,,  „5 
';  ■■  tin-  \\i-i,..i,    Honi,;   .,f  III,.  \\  > 

17-1  V  r.'in.a    (  .  .i.  -    ihf    .Nortnw.-i    i,,   t|„.  (.     > 

>"■  1.  .w  Fa-, ,!  f,.r  111..  Sill  ..  1  „f  W.-ii  rti  l..i!..l- 

-^,;  Aniiiii.in-  ^ul.n.it  i..  i|„   (  l,.-inL' of  th.- N:,v!.-a- 
ti  Hi  ..f  till-  Mi-,-;|,pi  1,,,  Spain. 

7^:  \.irlli«. -1.  in  T.  rril..ry  I  •ri.'aiii/i-il. 

I7->  St  (  l.iii-  |.;.i,,l.|i-|„.,!  a(,..v,rnin.-nl!n  N  W  Ti  r 

17x!(  llhn,,,- ((r.M   i/,,|:„si    (b.irlonnty 


;o.\ 


17eO    iri"!  I  „„rt-  K-lalili  liiilat  Ka-ka-kla 
17'-'1     -1    (  liir  jtifiali-l  on  tin-  Wahasb. 

17X'  Ti.  ,u  ..f  I',,:,,.,.  Hill,  ,|„,  Iiii,„,i,  Tritjfs 

17!i:i  liuri^-ui- of  i..nit  ill  tin- W. -t 
I  Till     \\..,yni-  Vniori  on  tin-  .Maun..-.- 

171»."i  Tii:it_\  ..f  (in.  !ivi:i.. 

17!»1  l!riii-li  Kv;i  n,,i..  111..  I.,,k,.  Ciiintr) 

I  17!i7  Spuni-h  In:rij,'ii.  -  in  tin'  Wt-t. 

I7!i"  llarri-on  .s.-,  ptary  of  Xortlnvi-urn  T.rrilorv. 

17i»ii  I.  ii-Fir-t  I>.l..^'ati-t,,(oni.-r.— . 

1800   l-iKi    In. liana  Ti  rrilorv  Forini.l  "  ;ili  Wiliiam  llinn 

l**"l  llarri-r>n  .is  <jo\t.rii..r. 

l-ir,'  Aniiriians  Km  hnli-il  from  NcwOrlfun- 

l-iKt  I.oiii-iana  I'liri  lia-fil  liy  tin-  I  nitiil  Stall - 

I  I"*"!  I.iwi,  ami  Clarki- ..  Kxiii-ilitj,,,,  to  tin-  Pari'ir 

I  IxiC,  (  ,.-si,,i,  ,,f  Imlian  l.aml-  ( ipp.,-ii,..  Vim  i-nm  - 

I«<»i  l,.«i-anil  ClarkfUiturn 

1-iiT  Fi'-I  Siatiili-  Hook  of  l,att.<  l-ulilistipil  in  I|l|n..i. 

IsiiN  Trnini-iy  al  TippiraiiiH- 

Mm  Illjnni-  Ti-rrll.iry  Korimil 


1810   lipt    Ttrnni-iy  Vi-it-  llarri-on  ai  Vincinues. 
1^11  i  Diiitlr  of  TipiMcanm-. 

1-I-'    Inili'i!  .Stairs  DtT-lari:-  W.ir  A;:,iiu-l  Eimiaml. 
'•"l^t    llallleof  llnTliamis. 
I""!!    Pi  an.  Willi  Knirlatiil. 
'■"l''    I.ari'i'  liiiiniL'niliiin  to  Illinois 
'""''    Bank  of  111  inn- (  harti  n-.l 

Til..  I  ..iH.ir\    Flooi!i..|  w  111.  r,i     ,    \. 


1—    -..X-      .y'^^'^'j''lf  Settlement 

^^' \ 


t 


^1 


I  -CVUi5±l\ 

1828   LJ: 


RUSHVIlYe  1826^        ^-"^ftUF 


'own/ 

-'822^. 


-i-H ''-^ 1 ii i—n f  N  I IV ^        ,11         ^^^  ,^CS^'  ^Ill'noisVlltnge  l:jilu         '^ 

11  IV  '  .  BASELINE  (         MOTrWrrr      Omt-,^    'k ' ^--^!h--Jl&i!^Mf^  Villaq.   1 794 

l)?QUINCy  r         I  /■     I'^-ii*  "    y  4      1837    °v] 


/I  \     1819* 


1  \ 


J.A.PKIIIilGO^ 
ls,'l 


\ 


MEREDOSIA 


VIRC 

ISi; 


Diuft)on 
Setthwt 


\ 


<^  JACKS 

M^  ^    If     i' 
\^  _         18l>3 


LOUISIANA" 


-s    PITTSFIELD  1833 


>+K.HfV>kl.I.>, 

IM'II 


1^       (-•       Oc^^^^  ^  -, 

I  ^    1>*^31> /WINCHESTER 


'1^1- 


■V7,-— « 


r 


^.BISSSLL 
PRAIRie 


(D 


I 

1S21  j 

j:       i:       V    i 

CARROLLTON    i 

,;        1821  ! 

\\  !  ca: 


<'.«IIW«W«    '^^IF 


[I 


r- 


"M^ 


Mill  nn/ilj} 

Sttt/Cni*nt[, 


I 


W'^  "--- -"-^  JERSEYV^LLE 

£\c  %  J  !■:     u      S  \K     V  i 

i\  \  \  ! 

CAPE  aU  oris  °^  I    ^    1  i 


m  iif  iijj.\(ii\ 


*%oNROE^/  ,r;"/;v6^^r^'^li:,^^- 


^ 


/ «? 


m 


iMik    .    1      111    li-    -    t 

l^lt    Tlif  I  ouiilrv  Klcroi'.til  Willi  I'apii  Mmikv 

Illinois  11  St:iic.      Sli:iiirark   lion. I  K'nli.l  i;..\ 
l^l"*  irn..r()ii,,lHT  illli.    Hi  ('..iiiiii.  -  In  tin  >l  iti- 

l.ijri  h.Vnrr  at  Ka>U.i-kl:i 


1020 


1-411  Ani;u-tii- (■    Kr.m  li  liiaiiL'il  (i^virinir  l>i  i    itili 

1M>  NiH  Liiii-iilulh'ii  fi'rnnii. 

!s)!i  i;,,M-rnnr  Fn-nili  Ui-  liiaiiL'iTiitcil  .Iaiiuar\  -tli. 

1850   I-"'i  Ail. if  lli.[}K-tiail  K\i  ini'ti'.n  Pa--.  ,1. 

i-'.;:  .!m.  I  A.  M;iltt-  -..n  Inatiir.i  ii<i\'tiin'r  Jan.  Tlh. 

|v-,-.  I'r.i-  .Nln...l    Law  l'a~>c,L 

l-:,7  Win    11    Bi— ill  IiiaiiL'.l  i;..vcnn.r.Ian.  l-'tli. 


(  anipai::!!  fur  Stnaiiir^bip  IJtMwi-t-n  I.inruln  ami 
^"'"  D.mulas,  I),>^ll:la^  Kl.-rlt-.l 


1360        .      •■..v.vn..r  jii-.ll  Ii!,.l  Man  li  i:..     .I..1im   W  .-   .1 
^^''"  Sun,. ■.!..!  Illin. 

I'li'.lianl  Vat(-  IiiaU!,''.!  (;..virnc.r  .lanuan    '.4lli- 
l-iil     Iniiiifusi-    Enli.-tnirni    ..f   >..l.liir-    f.ir  tin-  War 
of  the  Kcbi'lliuii. 


Riiliard  J.  OirU-liy  Inaii:.''.l  iJm, nmr  Jan    Hllli 
ll..aril  of  Kqualizatiuii  £.»talili-li.  .1 

1"<;!'    Jc.lin  M.  I'ahn.T  InaiiL'.l  <;..v.rii..r  Jan.  Illli. 

1870   !"•;"    Ni-M- C'linstiiiitii.n  K..niii'.l 
l-Tl    ciiicapo  Kiri'. 

linvcrn'.rl^irlc-liy  r»-  inaii::'.!  li'.'.(Tn..r  Jan.  i:ilh, 
..,  It. -iiriii- 1  Jan. ',':;.!.     J..liii  1..  IJ.  v.  raL"- Sn. 

'■''•'  .■.-.■.l.il  Mini. 

Law  I'a— ,  .1  Uiirulaliii:;  Uailr.ia.lt  liar^'.-. 


-I  ..    .^Inlliy  M.  (  lilloni   InaUL'il  <;<)V(rnor  Jan    -tli. 

I  iw  I'as-id  fur  Orirauization  of  Statf  Mililia. 


1880  (;..virii.ir  ('uHliii  W.   InaiiLTrated  Juii    intli 


l-M    .,. 


riu-  Mat.-  n.l.t   I'ai.l. 

iH.v.rinir   <  ulloiii    1<.-I;:n(.|    Man  li   llli.     Jiiliii 
\1.  Ilainill..n  Sii,  ,r,Ml,-.l  Him. 


TA 


Kihvaril  ('nle-  Iiiau;;(l  Gminior  Di  a  iiiJhi    "uli 

1810 

I: 

1  ■•■.'■.' 

All  Alti-nipi  to  Aniciiii  ilif  t'im>tiliitioii  ^.'  a~ 
lo  l.i-i:ali/.i    Slav.rv  Kaikil. 

1820, 

1  ■■•:.". 
1 -■."'■. 

l,aKa>.tI.'  Vi-it.'.l  llllii"i-, 

Nin'i.in    K.hvarils    luaiii:'.!    (l.iv.rnor    1>. .     I'.ih 

1830. 
1840. 

;-♦■  * 

1  --.",1 
is:!it 

Itrvi-min    ilf    till-    Stat.'    1..1     111.-    Y.  ar-     l^.'.l   all.l 

is:<0,  :)1TH.!«,S. 



1850, 
1860 

1830 

iKiii 

J..lin  U.yii.il.K  Inau-'.l  i;..v.  ain.r  I)..  ,nil..  r  Htli. 
Til.'  Sank  W.ir 

1870, 

♦I' 

lilark  Hawk  S.nl  I..  K..rir.—  M.iiin..- 

1880, 

■r: 

1SJ4 

Ji-cpli  1)1111. an  Inaiijr'.l  C.viMii.ir  Dn  .  inlur  :t.l 
hiiiiiin>i'  Internal  liiipriiviiii(iii>  H.  .;nn. 

i-.;7 

Klijah  1*.  I...V.  j.,y  Killi.l 

Til. .Ilia*  I'arlin  Inaiiir'.l  tiovirnur  n('ci.'nil.ir*tl. 

l-:^^' 

(  .illap>f  ..f  tin-  Intiriial  Iiiiproviiiifiit  S\«tini. 

'♦  * 

Failiiri-  of  iIk-  Stair  l!;iiik. 

i^  J. 





**■  . 

18- 

lO 

111. .Ilia- K.ir.l  IiiauL''.!  i;'.virn..r  Dii  .nil.,  r  -lli 

i- 

l'-4-.' 

A  I.i.aii  ..f  fl.tVNi.iHKi  N,M;.,|jai,-a  ti.    ...nipl.  ti- 

1- 

till-  Illiii..i>  and  MicliL'au  Cnuai. 

Wh.rl..   N.|,„...  . 

,,f      I'.T-...,- 

1 2.282 

55.2 1  1 

157.575 

-     476.183 

851.470 

1.711.951 

2,539,891 

3.077,871 


'/.-^ 


\'' 


ft  \   M 


iiosftf  / 


ST.LOUIS*       ,/ 

Fust  Stewii  Boat  iSI'i'm  jf'i^iafs  fei 

^oCAHOK 

PRAIRII 

BELLEVI 
1 


TJl 


-4- 


l\' 


^  I'IGCJOTS  K 
\    17s:J 

"  WHITEi 
,   STATIOI 

I  \ 

-^0  BELLE,! 


if  ,V. ..   Di-.-,ign 
LPs,- 


hunt   1782 


o 


HISTORICAL 


MAP 


Illinois 


SHOWING  EARLY 


Discoveries,  Explorations,  Indian  Villages,  Missions, 

Trails,  Battle  Fields,  Forts,  Block  Houses, 

First  Settlements  and  Mail  Routes, 


ALSO 


A  Chronological  Tablet  of   Illinois  History 

Arranges  in 


CENTURIES  AHD  DECADES, 


I!x    IMTrs    HLANcnARI), 

'I'll.     111-..  ..\.  r>     in.l  <  ..n.pn-t-  ..f    'In'  .N.irtliw.--'     Ill-ti.riral 
Map  ..f  Ihi-  I  lulnl  Slates,  eli- 


(    IIK   .\l.(): 

TIIK  XATION.M,  SClIool,  1  ri!NlSlII.\(i  C«  >. 

No-.  lU  ,\Mi  :u;  M\iii~..'>;  Siukkt. 
Is-;;. 


^^,^  1 . 


ST.GENEVIET 


r^ 


-< 


■^  KLiW  A>^DSVII,LE  lH(.r,        I 

I      A       D      I    (  s      ()       \         1 

l„n  Sitlhnnht         1<S12 
1SU2 

/^       \^JuJij  Settltnwnt  /cll  1 1.  TON'S  ' 


CIIAMUi;U'SK01!T    [    ^^"2  i        S»r.i.jf-USM 

klAl700      '^'-^  »eoS 

[E  DU  PONT  .     ^^^^  TOrHVfiVS 

1814     \  '^xJURKEXHtLL  1798     , 

: 1 Vill^^X  ,  I       \  M         ■ 

r.      c    i;  A  (I    u  : 

ESIDE 
)N1794 


s;,FOUNTAIN  ]/7 


o     i: 


)l{Tlll.\|{T._.., 

7-Mt  7^       ISOO 


MtJOTvEb 

^im;aii!IE 

i.A .1 

T  T         Mc  l:|an:sboro 

'    '"    ^EMl4d  1^  H^Trr^L  TO  xN 

9       MANTUA^f 
1830     ^^ 


'CARMI  1815 

W     II      L 

1815f 


^    r.spH'-^'  ^'JS  \,    ^-N  I 


Dillaid  sSeWtir.i 
1S07 


CAPE  GIRARDEAU  °||f 
1779  '   ' 


.a  TOWN 


LNEY 

m'^^>^   1S41  »»outi~T 

I  (     II  L  A  \   I> 


1  L  A"V\^^W>*    C    E 


1* 


X*: 


Shauif^  Village 

.    ^     ^jSHAWNEETOWN 


X 

V 


IZABETH 


C 


V 


EXPLANATION 

Indian  Village 

IVIissions 


A 

I 


Location  of  Events 

Forts 

Trails  and  Routes  ^ 


The  date  beside  the  name  of  a  county 
shows  the  year  of  its  orf^anization. 

The  date  beside  a  town  shows  the  year  of 
:ho  first  settlement  at  tho  placo. 


a 


•  ■♦5 
'-■Ti. 


i 

1^ 


^ 


5; 

is  I 


lis 


w 

« 


